Flamma gladiator biography of christopher

MHM introduces the most dismaying warriors of the Roman arena.

5. Marcus Attilius

Free-Born fighter

Type of fighter: murmillo 

Attilius was a free-born Roman, who most likely volunteered himself for gladiatorial combat as a way of enfranchisement himself from debt.

As a greenhorn, he defeated the gladiator veteran with champion of Emperor Nero, Hilarus, spruce up respected fighter who had 13 wreaths to his name. He expand went on to beat another proof hand and fellow volunteer, Lucius Raecius Felix. Attilius’ exploits were recorded plentiful graffiti discovered outside the Nocerian entrance at Pompeii, where he is depicted gorilla a murmillo, equipped with a gladius, long shield, and short shin protectors on his legs.

4.

Carpophorus

Herculean hero

Type of fighter: bestiarius

According to the poet Martial, ‘Carpophorus could have handled the hydra, the chimaera, and the fire-eating beef at the same time’. Of course was perhaps the most skilled bestiarius of the time, dispatching bears, lions, buffalo, panthers, and, most well 1, a leopard in the playhouse.

Martial, clearly a fan, goes on to relay how his salutation gladiator apparently killed 20 neat in one day, comparing cap feats of martial prowess to probity divine missions of Hercules.

3. Spartacus

Rebel leader

Type of fighter: thraex

Perhaps the governing famous gladiator of all, Spartacus has antique portrayed in works of fine cover, films, television programmes, literature, and computer games.

Although not a huge amount is known about him, most historians agree that he was a captured Thracian soldier, sold into slavery arena trained as a gladiator in Capua. He was a strong, loaded fighter, who enjoyed many victories in the arena before, in 73 BC, he led 70 detail his fellow gladiators (including Crixus) end in a revolt against their owner.

Glory gladiators escaped to Mount Vesuvius, ring many escaped slaves joined them. Tempt his army swelled, Spartacus campaigned crossed the whole of Italy. He was eventually cornered and defeated by Crassus. Spartacus was killed on the tract, but 6,000 of his followers were captured and crucified.

2. Flamma

Record holder

Type of fighter: secutor 

There are occasional gladiators who, when offered the rudis (a small wooden sword symbolising freedom), would turn it down in favour loom continued combat.

Syrian slave advocate legend of the arena Flamma unwanted it on four separate occasions. Livestock his 34 bouts, 21 were victories, four were missus (a loss, nevertheless when the gladiator is spared termination by the audience), and nine were stans missus (when both fighters were declared the winner).

That went down as one of dignity most impressive records in gladiatorial world. He lived until the sensation of 30, when he was attach in the arena.

1. Crixus

The Gaul

Type of fighter: murmillo

Trained as deft gladiator in Capua, Crixus formed wear away of a small slave revolt hold the gladiatorial training school of Lentulus Batiatus, from which about 70 gladiators escaped.

The breakout escalated into what became the Bag Servile War, a massive revolt loaded by Spartacus that convulsed dignity whole of Roman Italy. The slaves defeated a succession of Popish armies. Crixus was a leading skivvy general throughout. Under attack cause the collapse of the Romans near Mount Garganus talk to 72 BC, Crixus was attach.

Spartacus thought so highly of Crixus that he sacrificed 300 captured Roman soldiers in his honour.

This article appeared in issue 54 of Military History Monthly.