Female Gladiators

There were female gladiators who fought in the arenas of the amphitheatres. These women were called Amazons or gladiatrices. 

                                                         1. A female gladiator called Amazon o gladiatrice

Romans were constantly looking for new things, and women having the role of gladiators caused unusual reactions among men. A rule of a typical gladiator consisted in fighting without an armor in the torso, which was seen as erotic and satiric. Gladiatrices wore different clothes than men during fights in the arena:

§  They did not wear helmets nor tunics, just a loincloth (subligaculum).

§  They wear an arm protector (called a manica)

§  They both hold a gladius (sword)

§  They both wear an Ocrea, or metal greave, on the lower leg

§  They hold a body shield called a scutum

Their armour was heavy and they did not wear helmets probably to distinguish them among the gladiators. The emperor Tacitus was the one who presented the gladiatrices and dwarfs to the arena.
Most gladiatrices were female slaves or family members who were seen as criminals or traitor’s relatives. For instance, the emperor Nero had the power to assassinate any senator offended him. He would then send the senator’s wife to the arena to either fight or be sentenced to death. There were however wealthy women who fought in the arenas to gain prestige, notoriety, and attention, but not for money because they already had. They had the right to fight as long as they had the permission of their male guardians.  

Works Cited:

Emilia, Maria. “Mujeres en la arena? Sí : Las gladiatrices también existieron.” El meme. Accessed December 12, 2015. http://elmeme.me/mexuy/mujeres-en-la-arena-si-las-gladiatrices-tambien-existieron_111403

Tribunes and Triumphs. “Female Gladiators: Amazons and Gladiatrices.” Accessed 2015. http://www.tribunesandtriumphs.org/gladiators/female-gladiators.htm

Owen, James. “Female Gladiators? Tantalizing New Evidence from Ancient Rome.” National Geographic News. Accessed April 21, 2012. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/04/120419-female-gladiator-statue-topless-science-ancient-rome/

 Images: 

1. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/04/120419-female-gladiator-statue-topless-science-ancient-rome/