16. Not all gladiators were men – female gladiatrix also fought in the arenas of Rome, even if they were usually novelty acts
Women most definitely fought as gladiators in Ancient Rome. However, compared to their male counterparts, hardly anything is known of this Gladiatrix. Certainly, they rarely featured in fights and were more a novelty show. Indeed, female fighters were usually seen as a comedy act before the main event. As well as fighting one another, they were also forced to fight wild beasts in the arenas of Rome. The records show that female gladiators didn’t wear helmets in the arena. This allowed them to show off their elaborate hairstyles, accentuating their femininity for the benefit of the baying crowd.