Roman Gladiator Games: the Origins of MMA, Part Two

Continuing the series that I started last week on the history of MMA (part one can be found here: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/28473-MMA-Origins-Part-One-the-Rise-of-Ancient-Greek-Pankration), this article will examine the gladiator games of the ancient Romans and their multi-faceted relationship to current MMA combat.

Part three will detail the resurgence of modern Pankration and cross-training styles through such figures as Bruce Lee, Aris Makris, and Jim Arvanitis. The fourth and final article traces the development of jiu-jitsu through its Japanese origins and its adoption by the Gracie family, which eventually lead to Vale Tudo matches in Brazil and then MMA as we now recognize it.

Historical Origins

In Latin, gladius means “sword,” while gladiatores means “swordsman,” which can also be translated as “one who uses a sword.”  Historically, it is theorized that the Romans may have adopted gladiatorial fights from the Etruscans, or that the tribes of southern Italy and/or the Greeks might have held gladiatorial games at funerals to commemorate the deaths of famous, wealthy citizens.

Within Rome, the first gladiatorial combats are recorded as happening in 264 B.C. Prior to this time, it was common for aristocrats to sacrifice prisoners on the graves of heroic warriors. The practice of having pairs of slaves fight to the death at funerals replaced the more primitive method of direct human sacrifice as homage to fallen soldiers.

Aristocrats would spend a lot of money in setting up private gladiatorial contests to entreat guests and pay tribute to their family members. Eventually, these games evolved from funeral rites into fully-fledged public performances for the sake of entertainment on behalf of the Roman emperor (though private games were still occasionally held by wealthy patrons).

After the death of Julius Caesar in 44 B.C., the emergence of gladiatorial combat as a public spectacle initiated by the state and the Emperor to appease his subjects really took off (the Roman way of maintaining approval ratings). The games provided the backdrop through which the government could keep the public in check (by giving them what they wanted) and diminish the possibility of revolt and dissent.

Gladiators and the Arena

Combatants would fight in amphitheatres that were filled with sand (to soak up blood) and could seat thousands of spectators, with the most famous one being the Colosseum in the city of Rome itself. This arena had a capacity of 50,000. Ticket scalpers were common, and often enjoyed a considerable return on their investment.

Gladiators usually were slaves, prisoners of war, or criminals, though there were some volunteers who fought in the games. They would train in specific gladiator schools and receive monetary awards for their tribulations. The average gladiator would fight three times a year, and could eventually earn his freedom if he displayed great courage and achieved several victories. They received excellent medical attention and tended to live longer than the average Roman subject.

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