Women gladiators, what do we know about it?

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

The Roman Colosseum became a symbol of the love of the inhabitants of the empire for gladiator fights. They could be diversified, for example, by bringing women into the arena.

Gladiator fights: Amazon vs Achilles

The emergence of female gladiators is associated with the growing popularity of gladiatorial fights at the end of the era of the Republic and under the first emperors. Under Emperor Augustus, a ban was issued on visiting the Arena by girls from the Senate estate, and married women could only watch the games from the back rows.

Preserved evidence of the love relationship of free Romans with athletes and gladiators. But less is known about women's participation in arena battles.

The long history of arena fighting is full of many unusual facts, one of which was women's participation in fights. The first evidence of the participation of Roman women in gladiatorial battles dates back to the era of the emperor Nero. The historian Dio Cassius, describing the decline in morals during the time of this emperor, says that under him noble men and women from the upper classes played in the theater, drove chariots, and also fought in the arena and participated in the baiting of animals.

Tacitus writes about the lush games of 63 A. D. e., during which women from noble families and senators entered the arena for duels.

Participation in the performances was a shame for the noble Romans - they watched gladiatorial fights and performances of artists, and did not participate in them. One of the heroes of "Satyricon" Petronius the Arbitrator, who lived in the time of Nero, talking about the forthcoming magnificent gladiatorial battles, mentions the participation of a woman-essedarii in them.

Amazon and Achilles. Source: Wikimedia. Commons

The word "Essedarius" was used to describe the Celtic warrior who fought in a chariot. Later, this word began to denote a gladiator fighting in a chariot. They wore oval shields, armor, and feathered helmets.

Judging by the anticipation with which the hero of "Satyricon" spoke about the upcoming participation of a woman in gladiatorial games, it was a rare sight.

The next time women participating in cruel games are mentioned in sources in 80 AD. e. in connection with the opening of the Colosseum under the Emperor Titus. During the games in the new arena, 9000 animals were killed. In their persecution, according to Dio Cassius, women-commoners participated on an equal basis with men. Women did not fight in gladiatorial battles this time.

The brother and successor of Titus, Domitian, loved to diversify the gladiatorial fights. For example, make women or dwarfs fighters. The poet Statius wrote about these games that one might think that the audience was seeing real Amazons in the arena.

Women entered the arena with weapons in their hands not only in the capital of the empire. The main evidence for the existence of female gladiators comes from Asia Minor. This is a marble relief of the 1st-2nd centuries AD. e. from the city of Halicarnassus, depicting two fighting female gladiators. Their names are written under the relief - Amazon and Achilles. Most likely, these are stage names for performing at games.

From the inscription on the bas-relief, it follows that both participants in the duel received freedom. Such an event was rare - if the fighters fighting each other showed valor, they both could deserve freedom.

Another mention of female gladiators comes from Ostia in the 2nd century AD. e. A local official, Hostilian, wrote that he was the first to "provide women for the sword." This phrase is understood as attracting women to participate in gladiatorial battles.

In 200 A. D. e. Emperor Septimius Sever issued a decree forbidding women to participate in gladiatorial battles. This decree was preceded by large-scale games in Rome, in which female gladiators took part. They fought so fiercely with each other that, according to the historian, all Roman women, including noble ones, were ridiculed.

Women gladiators in the movie "Arena", 1974. Source: imdb.com

Most likely, most female gladiators entered the arena the same way as men. They could be slaves sold to the Lanista, or free women of low birth who came to him voluntarily.

None of the sources mention battles between female gladiators and male gladiators. A bas-relief from Halicarnassus depicts two women fighting. It can be assumed that in the arena, the Romans fought only with equal strength - other women.

One of the tasks of the gladiatorial games was to prepare the Romans for war. The citizens of the Eternal City saw the gladiators risk their lives and receive injuries in the arena. A real duel between women could give them courage. In addition, novelty was appreciated in games, and the emperors sought to diversify the gladiatorial competitions. One of the ways was to bring armed and trained women to the battle.

Although gladiator fights were a popular motif in art, there are no depictions of women gladiators. The only known example is the relief from Halicarnassus.

Entering the arena of armed women was an exceptional event on a par with navmachia (sea battle of gladiators). Each such exit became an event about which the authors of historical works wrote.

Roman Britain: the mystery of the grave from London

In 1996, archaeologists unearthed an old Roman cemetery in London. One of the graves, located outside the cemetery wall, belonged to a woman. In addition to her bones, the remains of animals, pine cones and several lamps were found in the grave. One of them depicted a fallen gladiator, and three others - the Egyptian god Anubis.

According to some historians, there are several facts in favor of the fact that this woman fought in the arena. Only next to the amphitheater of Londinium did Italian pines grow, the cones of which were placed in the tomb. The god Anubis was sometimes identified with Mercury, in the image of which the servants of the amphitheater dragged the bodies of the fallen soldiers from the arena. The fact that the woman's grave was outside the boundaries of the cemetery speaks of her low social status with wealth.

Lamp with a picture of a gladiator. Source: academia.edu

After the discovery of the grave, the Discovery Channel released a popular film with the characteristic title "Gladiatrix". More cautious scientists note that lamps, mirrors and other household items with images of gladiators were very popular among the inhabitants of the empire. A woman buried in this grave could be a rich freedwoman who loved gladiatorial fights.

Examples of women's participation in animal baiting and arena fights were sporadic. Each time they were a demonstration of the organizer's wealth and desire to amaze the audience with an unusual spectacle.

Nikolay Razumov