Everyone walked back into the Colosseum. Then it was time for the gladiators to come out. Everyone would cheer and shout as the gladiators entered the arena. Gladiators were war prisoners, slaves, or criminals forced to fight each other. Sometimes, gladiators who were set free came back to fight because they enjoyed a life of excitement. They could make lots of money if they won. Emperor Commodus enjoyed fighting as a gladiator and once he killed one hundred bears with a bow and arrows. His friends decided that the emperor should not act like that and they strangled Commodus when he was on the way to his bath.
There were different types of gladiators. The hoplomachus carried a shield and a sword and wore a heavy helmet and armor. A retiarius or net man used a trident and a net to trip his opponent. When the loser begged for mercy by holding up his finger, the crowd would shout to kill him or put their thumbs up to save him. The emperor made the final decision. If the emperor wanted him killed, the loser had to kneel and have his throat cut.
Emperor Domitian had mock sea battles held in the Colosseum although it was very expensive. A canvas was laid over the arena and water was piped inside. Full sized war ships manned by gladiators dressed as Persians and Greeks rowed in the shallow water. They would jump aboard another ship and kill the men on it. It was like a reenactment but the killing was real.
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The Colosseum of Ancient Rome part 4
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