Imagery VII.1 – Guys – Romans and Gladiators

Gladiators were slaves who were taught how to fight in special schools. The gladiators were trained to fight with daggers, swords, forks and nets. They had to fight slaves and criminals who were either unarmed, or armed only with the net.

The fight ended when one man died. If a man was wounded and unable to fight on, he makes a sign for mercy. The crowd would then decide whether he should live or die by giving him thumbs up or thumbs down. Thumbs up signified that the crowd wanted the loser killed while thumbs down meant that he should be spared.