GLADIATORS

Gladiators were men who fought each other or wild animals in big stadiums called amphitheaters. The Collosseum in Rome was the biggest amphtheaters in ancient Rome. People came to watch the gladiators fight. It was a special event in ancient Rome.

These men trained to fight and were very strong and brave. They lived together in gladiators schools where they trained all day every day. They slept together, ate together, and fought together.

These fighters were not free men – they were forced to fight. Sometimes they died when fighting. It was a horrible life, but some lucky gladiators became famous and won their freedom.