Preface

The following information was gathered from intense study of the marble Pompeian relief of a pompa (procession) before a munus dated circa 40s CE. It is now in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples. The second major resource is the Zilten mosaic, which once graced the home of a retired lanista or gladiator in N. Africa. It follows the progress of a gladiator bout. We have differing dates but based on the equipment and armor, 150-212 CE is probable. It is now in the Archeological Museum in Tripoli.

The Pompa

Pompa: Jumbo size 61K

Ancient authors who wrote about daily life in Rome also gives some sketchy detail. Cicero, Pliny the younger, Senaca, Juvenal, Plutarch, Lucius, and Symmachus all wrote about gladiators and their rituals.

Executing the Munus

As we mentioned before, the gladiatorial contests were the zenith of the performance of the munera, the ritual held by private citizens in the early Republic. By the principate, additional events had been added to the spectacle. Venationes (animal hunts or fights) had been become a favorite thing of the crowd especially if the animals fought back, getting things started as the people would be arriving to the day's event.

The execution of criminals (noxil), usual happened next then athletic contests, and comic episodes (Romans loved vulgar comedy) generally took place in the noon time, while the main event came in the afternoon. The event would close at darkness and the people would return to their homes planning to return the following day. Roman authors tell us a Principate munus usually lasted for several days.

For various special occasions some of the emperors arranged huge events lasting 4 days, or even for weeks, in which hundreds or thousands of pairs fought. Augustus himself states in account of his achievements that in the course of eight great munera he sent "10,000 gladiators in all into the arena." (Augustus' Res Gestae).

Still mammoth spectacles were rare even in Rome. At munera in the smaller cities of Italy, evidence in archeological finds of announcements and programs that have been preserved, usually through graffiti, shows twenty and fifty pairs was the average to appear on special days while the average munus boasted of only 12 pairs (24 gladiators).

More History of the Munus Part 2 Gladiatorial Contests

Executing the Munus
The Preparation
Conduct of the Gladiatorial Contests
The Fight and Post Combat
Gladiators and Their Future

More History of the Munus Part 1 Gladiatorial Contests

Origins
The First Contests in Rome
The Games as a Political Tool
The Demise of the Munus
Ave Imperator: Gladiator Game Rules
Ave Imperator: Record Sheet
Re-enactor: Maximus the Lanista