The duel of female gladiators of Achilia and the Amazon. Bas-relief from Halicarnassus. (British Museum, London)
It just so happened, purely biologically, that the main goal of human life on planet Earth is … no, just don't tell me that this is work for the good of the Fatherland. No, there is a more important thing and that is … reproduction. That is, labor is itself, but the instinct tells you: the time has come, let's multiply. And it is impossible to reproduce without the opposite sex. Hence our entire gender culture - "love songs", "dances-crimps" and neckline to the navel. However, the second half of humanity was never satisfied with the sheer role of the continuers of the clan. At all times there were women who were possessed by the ideas of emancipation and dreamed, if not of universal equality with men, then at least to wipe their nose with them, or to taste forbidden male joys. The Romans, who most of all in the world adored the spectacle of bloody fights, were the first to notice that women, at least, are not inferior to men in strength of spirit and rage, and therefore thought about how to please themselves not only with male, but also with female gladiator fights.
An Amazon wearing a helmet and a shield, which depicts the head of Medusa the Gorgon. Attic red-figure kilik, 510–500 BC BC. State Historical Museum Berlin.
It is clear that female gladiators were rare, and every rarity attracts. In addition, some women can fight almost as fiercely as men. They also know how to overcome the fear of death in themselves. So, taking all this into account, we must immediately conclude that the emergence of female gladiators was a matter of only time. But at first there were very few gladiators themselves. At first, only a few pairs beat. Then more and more. Specialization has developed among gladiators. Then they became popular and even began to earn good money, then … representatives of the nobility and even the emperor himself entered the arena. And the women? They immediately wanted the same as the men! Someone has money, someone has emotions, someone has all this in aggregate and preferably more!
Tombstone of Myron - Gladiator-Scisor II - III c. AD Louvre, Paris.
So the presence of female gladiators in ancient Rome is a historical fact, which is confirmed by various written sources and even archaeological finds.
Oil lamp with the image of Murmillon. Louvre, Paris.
First of all, we will cite several decrees (edicts) of the Roman government aimed at limiting the participation of women in gladiator fights, that is, this phenomenon was subject to legislative regulation and, therefore, was not isolated, but massive:
- In the 11th century. AD The Senate issued a decree prohibiting free Roman women under the age of 20 from entering the arena (and free men had to wait until the age of 25).
- In 18 A. D. this decree was replaced by another - the decree of Larinus, which provided additional punishment for both men and women for their participation in arena battles, if they belonged to the senatorial and equestrian classes. This decree was even carved on a silver board under the name Tabula Larinas (Larinus Board), and according to it, admission to gladiators was prohibited for daughters, granddaughters, and great-granddaughters of the senatorial or equestrian rank up to 20 years of age.
- In 200 A. D. Emperor Septimius Sever, famous for his severity of morals, completely forbade women to take part in any activity that was associated with violence. In his opinion, women's single combats were a bad example for women of the upper classes, and in addition, they caused ridicule from the audience.
Since we know that it was not customary in Rome to enact preventive laws, there can be no doubt that they were turned against a phenomenon already widespread. Indeed, most often laws are adopted when it has already reached a critical level, which is obvious to legislators.
However, information on the issue of interest to us can be found not only in Roman laws. Thus, the Roman historian Dio Cassius (c. 150 - 235 AD) described how the emperor Nero (54 - 68 AD) organized in memory of his mother (who, however, he himself killed!) gladiator fights, and in addition to male gladiators, women also participated in them. “There was another performance, even more shameful and shocking, when men and women of not only equestrian, but also senatorial rank appeared in the arena without respecting themselves - they rode horses, killed wild animals and fought like gladiators, some of their own free will, and some are against their will. Dio Cassius later described a gladiatorial battle, which in 66 A. D. also hosted by Nero and attended by Ethiopian women.
Angus McBride. Retiarius.
The Roman historian Suetonius (c. 69 - 122 AD) tells of the gladiatorial battles with the participation of women, organized by the emperor Domitian. Moreover, these gladiatorial battles of women were carried out by the light of torches. Dio Cassius wrote that he often organized battles at night and sometimes forced women to fight with dwarfs and with each other.
Yes, the public of that time had pretty morals in Rome. After all, it should be recognized that every nation deserves its ruler. Moreover, the people just support the one who indulges his tastes, sometimes the most rude and basest. Well, and of course, Domitiano himself was attracted to this, like most Romans, by a sense of novelty, or rather, her desire. He ate pate from the liver of nightingales, Ethiopians, British women, German women - he tried it, watched the torture of slaves … how else to tickle his nerves, how to surpass Caligula, Nero and Heliogabalus, what could "such" wish?
The Roman poet Statius even wrote a poem about gladiatorial battles under the emperor Domitian, and described in it that "Moors, women and pygmies" took part in the battles. “Gender, unadapted to wield weapons, competes with men in battle! You might think that a gang of Amazons is fighting. " By the way, the fact that it was the women's fights that were held late at night suggests that they were considered one of the main events of the fights and were specially left for the final.
And again, it must be emphasized that according to Tacitus (c. 56 AD - 177 AD), and he was both a senator and a historian, even noble and rich women did not hesitate to appear in the arena, so anything could be the reason for this, but not money.
However, in the most caustic way, women-gladiators ridiculed Juvenal in Satire IV (55 AD - 127 AD), and not only ridiculed, but also described in detail:
“Have you heard that women need war capes and oil to fight?
Have you seen the pieces of wood that they pound and crush, By skillful methods, piercing them through with a sword or a spear?
This is about the girls who trumpet for the glory of Flora.
Or maybe they are preparing themselves to enter the arena for a real fight?
But is it befitting for decent women to stick their head in a helmet, Despising your gender, with which you were born?
They love men's affairs, but they don't want to be men
After all, little things (as they think) delight their lives!
What "pride" does the husband feel at the sight of a market in which
His wife is as if for sale - in belts, shields and skins!
Hear her grunts and moans as she works hard, parrying and attacking;
Look at her neck being bent by a heavy helmet.
See how her legs are bandaged like tree trunks
Laugh as she drops her armor and weapons and reaches for the goblet.
How the daughters of our praetors and consuls are degraded!
Have you seen big-breasted Amazons versus wild boars at the games?
Isn't it more disgusting than gladiatorial girls and naked whores?"
So all this says not so much that female gladiator fights are not fiction at all, but rather that they were very widespread!
Angus McBride. Murmillon.
There are also archaeological finds that confirm the existence of female gladiators in ancient Rome. Among them are the inscriptions, for example, by the local magistrate from Ostia about the organization of female gladiator fights, the burial of female gladiators, and, of course, a bas-relief from Helicarnassus, which shows two women in the outfit of securators. That is, they have belts, greaves and plates on their hands. Each woman is armed with a sword and shield, but both fight bareheaded and bare chest. Their names are indicated under the images and confirm that these are women - one is called Amazonia, the other is Achilles. The inscription at the top in Latin means "missae sunt", that is, both of them, or one of them, received an honorary release from the struggle or the so-called "mercy" (missio).
This bas-relief is a wonderful monument to these two female gladiators. Moreover, it can be considered that it was an impressive battle that made an impression on people and was worth it to depict it in stone, so to speak "to posterity as an example." That is, the people of that time took it very seriously and did not spare any work or material to capture this fight for centuries.
Now let's make some logical inferences that can fill in the information gaps we have on this topic.
To begin with, if women in the arena fought like men, then their very lifestyle and training should be similar to the lifestyle of their fellow gladiators-men. As for men, we know that most of the gladiators in the Roman Empire were slaves, but some citizens voluntarily became gladiators and took an oath that they agreed to “be doomed, be beaten, and die by the sword” (uri, vinciri, uerberari, ferroque necari). It is estimated that by the end of the Republic, about half of the Roman gladiators were volunteers like this - a huge figure, considering that the battles took place not only in Rome, but also in all large and even not very large cities.
People who took the "gladiator's oath" were deprived of most of the rights of free citizens, and the most important right - the right to dispose of their lives - was now also transferred to their new owner. An interesting question: why did Roman citizens become gladiators? For example, this freed them from debt, that is, becoming a gladiator, one could “run away” from creditors, and even earn money; fighting in the arena, one could become famous; it was possible not to think about anything and not to worry "shod, dressed, and on everything ready." And these were good incentives. As well as the fact that gladiators who fought bravely and decisively received a higher salary. Even slave gladiators and they had every right to all or part of the reward for winning the arena. And they threw coins and gold bracelets there. If a former gladiator, having received his release, wished to remain in the arena, he received a generous reward. For example, Emperor Tiberius offered one such former gladiator a thousand gold coins if he returned to the arena. That is why women who fought in the arena cannot be considered as slaves or women with low social status, who only wanted to earn extra money. Everything was more complicated …
Angus McBride. The Thracian and the Securator.
For example, in the notes from Tacitus, it is directly said about women with a sufficiently high social level, but who, nevertheless, participated in gladiatorial battles, apparently for "entertainment", since they clearly did not need money.“This year the gladiatorial games were just as great as they were last. However, many high society ladies and senators have disgraced themselves by appearing in the arena”- a very significant statement, isn't it? Moreover, the paradox of the situation was that the audience in circuses rejoiced at the appearance of women gladiators, appreciated this "diversity", but in general the Roman society itself found women's fights reprehensible!
However, among the gladiators themselves in Rome, their social status was also very paradoxical. Some looked at them as their idols, the "Roman Beatles", while Roman society as a whole treated them with contempt. That is, they were loved and despised at the same time! And, if it was a shame for a noble Roman to participate in games, then what can we say about a noble Roman fighting in the arena? For a woman, running naked on the bloody sand meant going beyond all decency.
Figurine of a gladiator from the museum in Arles, France.
Gladiators had to live in special gladiatorial schools, where they studied the art of gladiatorial combat under the supervision of freedmen, that is, former gladiators. Naturally, there were doctors, masseurs, cooks and other servants at their service, making their stay at school … no, not pleasant, but comfortable enough to become a professional fighter.
The life of female gladiators was also very difficult (and possibly harder than that of men). They had to train with heavy chains at the ankles; with blindfolds; with one arm tied to the body; on your knees or even right after running for an hour in a circle. All this was done in order to cultivate physical strength in them, develop the corresponding muscle groups and teach a quick reaction. However, volunteer gladiators (autocrats) could not live in gladiatorial schools, but take lessons from private trainers or attend special colleges. Some women also attended such "educational institutions" or were trained by their gladiator fathers.
A gladiator's helmet from the British Museum.
It is known that each gladiator usually specialized in one kind of gladiatorial combat and learned to use exactly the equipment and weapons intended for him. Many types of gladiators are known: "murmillons", "secutors", "Samnites", "retiaries", "goplomakhs". Moreover, they entered the arena quite rarely, usually two or three times a year, which once again confirms their number.
Gladiator helmet from the Higgins Museum.
It is believed that all gladiators were doomed to die, but in reality this is not the case. Nobody cuts the goose that lays the golden eggs! Of course, gladiators died, including by the decision of the public. However, not as often as is commonly believed. After all, it was very expensive to educate and maintain such a fighter and it was more profitable to receive money for him from the audience than to pay them for his burial.
Another gladiator is an oil lamp of the 1st - 2nd centuries. AD Archaeological Museum in Split.
About how the fights were held, it has already been told more than once, so there is no point in repeating it. It is more important to emphasize that, as in any sports with sweepstakes, forgeries and agreements have always taken place in gladiatorial battles. It can be said that the outcome of many battles was known to their organizers in advance, and maybe even those officials knew about that, whose verdict meant to live or die for the defeated gladiator. Of course, the opinion of the crowd also took place, but it was always possible to make sure that the right person in the arena did not die, but those whose stakes were low or the coaches did not see any sense in them … those - yes, most likely, they died in the first turn to amuse the undemanding audience, who sincerely believe that everything is happening in the arena for real!
