208 
GLADIATORS, 
The dress of the Retiarius was a short habit, and a hat tied under 
the chin. His means of otFence were a weapon called a fiiscina, 
and a net. With the latter in his right hand, he endeavoured to 
entangle his adversary; and, with the fuscina in the left, he aimed 
mortal blows at him ; but as this description of gladiator was 
invariably opposed to Secutor, armed with a scymeter, a buckler, 
and a helmet, the Retiarius had no means of escape, if he failed in 
casting his net, except by flight round the arena, during which he 
adjusted it fora new trial. The best gladiators were Thracians; 
these men, with their falchion and small round shields, possessed 
more determined ferocity and cruelty than any of their opponents. 
Keniiet says, “ The origin of the Samnite gladiators is given by 
Livy. The Campanians,” says he, “ bearing a great hatred to the 
Samnites, they armed a part of their gladiators after the fashion of 
that country, and called them Samnites. They wore a shield, broad 
at top, to defend the breast and shoulders, and growing more nar- 
row towards the bottom, that it might be moved with the greater 
convenience. They had a sort of belt coming over their breasts, a 
greave on their left foot, and a crested helmet on their heads.” The 
Epidarii sometimes engage from chariots, and at others on foot; and 
the Andabatm mounted. The exhibition of gladiators was announced 
to the public by bills fixed in the public places, sometimes accom- 
panied by paintings of the intended combat, or the most celebrated 
combatants ; and when the time mentioned had arrived, and the 
people assembled, the 'gladiators marched slowly round the arena ; 
they were then matched, by persons appointed for that purpose, as 
equally as possible, and they prepared for the contest by fencing with 
blunted swords, &c.; after which the trumpets were sounded, and 
the battles began in serious earnest. When a severe wound was 
given, the gladiator who inflicted it, arid the people, exclaimed, ‘‘ He 
has it.” If that proved decisive, the vanquished person resigned his 
weapon, and acknowledged himself conquered. But this submission 
was not alone sufficient to save his life ; the people were to decide 
his fate. He therefore turned to them, and supplicated mercy, which 
w^as granted, or refused, according to their opinion of his skill and 
courage. Several learned authors have differed as to the exact 
manner in which the hands and fingers were placed, to express praise 
or disapprobation on those occasions. According to Juvenal, the 
bending of the thumbs backwards authorized the conqueror to kill his 
adversary as a cow^ard. The emperor might, however, interfere, 
if he w'as present, and save the gladiator ; it is supposed, besides, 
that his entrance at the instant of defeat was favourable to the 
vanquished party, as far as his life was concerned. 
The rew^ards of the victors consisted of money collected from the 
spectators ; and when they happened to be slaves, they received the 
pileus, or cap, denoting that from that moment they became free ; or 
the rudis, or wand, which signified that their services as gladiators were 
thenceforth dispensed with, whether slaves or freemen. It was cus- 
tomary for the persons thus situated either to become Lanistae, or to 
suspend their arms in the temple of Hercules. 
There are few nations which have not imitated this strange custom. 
