The roots of gladiatorial games, or munera , are often traced back to the Etruscans or the Osco-Samnite cultures. Originally, these combats were not mere sport but ritualistic sacrifices at funerals, intended to provide the deceased with armed attendants in the afterlife.
To keep the audience engaged, the Romans developed roughly 20 different classes of gladiators, each with unique armor and weaponry to create balanced, tactical matchups.
: Contrary to the image of lean modern athletes, research suggests gladiators followed a high-carb vegetarian diet (often called hordearii or "barley-eaters") and may have even consumed a "tonic" of charred wood or plant ashes to boost calcium levels.
Most gladiators were slaves, prisoners of war, or condemned criminals, though some free men volunteered for the "glory" and potential riches. They lived and trained in specialized schools called ludi , overseen by a manager known as a lanista .