A Roman gladiator was an ancient professional fighter who usually specialised with particular weapons and types of armour. They fought before the public in hugely popular organised games held in large purpose-built arenas throughout the Roman Empire from 105 BCE to 404 CE (official contests).
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Definition
Timeline
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264 BCEFirst recorded Roman gladiator games organised by two sons to commemorate the death of their father.
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105 BCEFirst official Roman gladiator games.
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73 BCE - 71 BCEGladiator Spartacus leads a slave revolt in southern Italy and wins several victories against the Roman army.
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71 BCEMarcus Licinius Crassus crushes the Spartacus slave revolt in southern Italy.
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59 CEA riot in the arena of Pompeii between locals and citizens of Nuceria results in a ten-year ban on gladiator games in Pompeii.
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72 CEVespasian begins construction of the Colosseum in Rome.
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80 CEThe Colosseum in Rome is officially opened by Titus with a 100 day gladiator spectacular.
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81 CE - 96 CEConstruction is finally completed on the Colosseum of Rome in the reign of Domitian.
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200 CERoman Emperor Septimius Severus bans women fighting in gladiator contests.
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c. 404 CERoman Emperor Honorius outlaws gladiator games.
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1 Jan 404 CEChristian Roman Emperor Honorius bans gladiatorial games after Saint Telemachus is stoned to death in an amphitheater when he tries to break up a fight between gladiators. Honorius' ban ends the traditional games in the Roman Empire.
