8 Famous Gladiators Who Became Legends in the Colosseum

Gladiatorial contests were among the most popular forms of entertainment in republican and imperial Rome, and gladiators were rivalled only by charioteers in the riches with which they were rewarded. While our literary sources leave much to be desired in describing gladiatorial combat, gladiators appear elsewhere if you know where to look: mentioned in celebratory graffiti, inscriptions, and artistic artefacts.

Since the emergence of their profession in the obscure history of the Roman Republic, gladiators have occupied a special place in the popular imagination. But it was only in the last hundred years or so that their status has made its way into the mainstream — thanks largely to films like Stanley Kubrick's Spartacus (1960) and Ridley Scott's Gladiator (2000) and Gladiator II (2024), influenced by earlier artworks like Jean-Léon Gérôme's 1872 painting Pollice Verso (featured top of page).

Due to these representations, figures like the gladiator-turned-rebel Spartacus and the megalomaniacal emperor Commodus are now considered arena legends, but other gladiators also enjoyed fame in their own time. So let's step back to the time of the Roman Empire and learn about its gladiators. 

Flamma

Flamma was the most infamous and dreaded gladiator to fight in the Colosseum, even declining multiple offers to be released from servitude. Seemingly destined for gladiatorial glory, Flamma enjoyed an incredible record of 21 victories, nine draws, and four defeats, armed with just a sword and shield in his role as a secutor.

Fourth-century mosaic showing a retarius (net-fighter) fighting a secutor (armed with sword and shield)

That Flamma was defeated on four occasions tells you something we often overlook about gladiatorial combat: that defeat at the hands of one's enemy seldom spelt death. In reality, it was rare for a gladiator to perish in the arena, not least because regularly having to replace and retrain them would have wrought financial ruin upon their owners.

When, as Suetonius tells us, gladiators would chant Ave, Caesar, morituri te salutant ("Hail Caesar, those who are about to die salute you") upon entering the arena, this was probably done more for dramatic effect than in expectation of their imminent death.

Flamma was unbeatable for 13 years thanks to his brutal combat techniques and abilities. He spent the first years of his life as a Syrian soldier despite being a slave. He was a fierce warrior who excelled at gladiatorial school, commanding respect from his peers. Flamma spent the remainder of his life as a loyal gladiator. 

Spiculus

When Spiculus first stepped out into the arena, more than just the spectators were impressed. He defeated veteran gladiator Aptonetus, a free Roman who had attended Capua's gladiator school, shockingly ending his 16-match winning streak. This made Nero, the notorious Roman emperor, sit up and take note of the young Spiculus, and the tyrant his gladiator soon grew close.

Unusually for a slave, Spiculus was granted the status of landowner. He also happened to be one of the few slave owners who employed other slaves. Nero lavished his champion with gifts and celebrations, but when an uprising in 68 AD brought an end to Nero's rule, Spiculus' fortunes turned.

Nero had hoped his friend could put him to death, but his guards were unable to locate Spiculus. Instead, Nero killed himself, stabbing himself in the neck in a villa outside the city walls, and the rebels obliterated his statues and used them to murder Spiculus. 

Commodus

The golden era of the Roman Empire (known as the pax romana) came to an end during the chaotic reign of the emperor Commodus. Ruling from 180 to 192 AD, Commodus was the first emperor to inherit the throne from his father, Marcus Aurelius, who you might remember as the gentle, white-haired emperor from Ridley Scott's Gladiator.

Notorious for being harsh, vulgar, and cruel, Commodus even made the iconic Hercules lion skin appearance and claimed to be the hero's reincarnation.

Commodus, sometimes known as one of the mad emperors, entered the renowned Colosseum 732 times to engage in combat with beasts and other gladiators. Commodus always ensured he had the upper hand, taking on captive gladiators or injured animals with just wooden swords. But when he was killed in 192 AD, he received his just desserts.

The merciless emperor Commodus is remembered in popular culture today, particularly in Joaquin Phoenix's portrayal of him in the movie Gladiator from 2000. 

Carpophorus

While most gladiators engaged in combat with other gladiators, some gained notoriety by engaging in animal fights in the renowned Colosseum. Carpophorus, a legendary gladiator, was known for risking his life to fight wild beasts for the general populace's entertainment.

Carpophorus stunned spectators on the first day in the Colosseum by easily defeating a bear, a leopard, and a lion. Later on that same day, Carpophorus is renowned for using his dependable spear to slay a rhinoceros. In the amphitheatre, he entertained tens of thousands of spectators who encouraged him as he faced off against various dangerous animals. He still ranks among the best gladiators of Classical Rome. 

Our main source for Carpophorus is Martial, a Roman poet writing shortly after the Colosseum was inaugurated, during the reign of Domitian. He has the following to say about Carpohorus's prowess:

If the ancient times had borne Carpophorus, Caesar, no barbarous land would have feared the Calydonian boar, no Marathon the bull, nor Nemea the leafy lion, nor the Arcadian the Maenalian boar. With him arming his hands, Hydra’s death would have been one; struck once by him, the whole Chimera would have fallen. He could have yoked the fire-breathing bulls without Colchis, he could have vanquished both of Pasiphaë’s creatures. If the ancient monster from the sea returned, he alone would have freed Hesione and Andromeda. Let Hercules’s glory be reckoned: it is greater to have subdued twenty beasts at once.

Martial, Book of Spectacles, Poem 27

Saecula Carpophorum, Caesar, si prisca tulissent, non Porthaoniam barbara terra feram, non Marathon taurum, Nemee frondosa leonem, Arcas Maenalium non timuisset aprum. Hoc armante manus hydrae mors una fuisset, huic percussa foret tota Chimaera semel. Igniferos possit sine Colchide iungere tauros, possit utramque feram uincere Pasiphaes. Si uetus aequorei reuocetur fabula monstri, Hesionen soluet solus et Andromedan.
Herculeae laudis numeretur gloria: plus est bis denas pariter perdomuisse feras.

Martial, Liber Spectaculorum, XXVII

Priscus & Verus

Perhaps the most famous gladiators immortalised by Martial were Pricus and Verus, whose contest was the highlight of the Colosseum's opening games in 80 AD.

Their story is the source of much of our information about gladiators in ancient Rome. Most significantly, it is our only surviving description of a gladiatorial fight. It is this that tells us about the role of the emperor in the Colosseum, and how combats would continue until one of the combatants raised his finger (an act known as the missio, from which we get "submission"). This is also our source for the wooden sword that was given to gladiators to symbolise their freedom.

The full text is provided below, with the original Latin text for those of you that way inclined.

While Priscus and Verus drew out their combat, and their contest long remained a stalemate, the crowd begged and shouted for a release. But the emperor Titus abided by his own law — the rule was that they must fight until one raised his finger. Though it was allowed, he often gave them gifts and rewards. A fitting end to this evenly matched fight was found: they fought as equals, and as equals they surrendered. Caesar sent them both the wooden sword of freedom and the palm: this was the prize for clever courage. This happened under no other prince but you, Titus: when two fought, both emerged victorious.

Martial, Book of Spectacles, Poem 29

Cum traheret Priscus, traheret certamina Verus, esset et aequalis Mars utriusque diu, missio saepe uiris magno clamore petita est; sed Caesar legi paruit ipse suae; - lex erat, ad digitum posita concurrere parma: - quod licuit, lances donaque saepe dedit. Inuentus tamen est finis discriminis aequi: pugnauere pares, subcubuere pares. Misit utrique rudes et palmas Caesar utrique: hoc pretium uirtus ingeniosa tulit. Contigit hoc nullo nisi te sub principe, Caesar: cum duo pugnarent, uictor uterque fuit.

Martial, Liber Spectaculorum, XXIX

Spartacus

Spartacus is without doubt the most well-known gladiator in history, but he never competed in the Colosseum which wasn't built until some 150 years after his death.

Born in Thrace in 103 BC, Spartacus entered into servitude in Capua, Italy, where he trained and fought as a gladiator. In 73 BCE, Spartacus and his fellow gladiators escaped their barracks, fighting their way out using kitchen utensils, and rallying more slaves to their cause.

Making their way south, Spartacus and his forces took up base on Mt. Vesuvius, where he won several stunning victories over the Romans, rappelling down the side of the mountain and outflanking the unsuspecting legions. Spartacus and his army of 100,000 formerly-enslaved gladiators defeated the Romans in Gaul early on in what is now commonly referred to as the Third Servile War. However, Spartacus wasn't treated lightly by the Roman Republic.

The consul Marcus Licinius Crassus put an end to the insurrection in Lucania in 71 BCE, slaughtering Spartacus and much of his army on the battlefield and crucifying the survivors along the Appian Way.

Spartacus is still one of the most well-known gladiators even though historians know relatively little about his life before being captured. Even Kirk Douglas portrayed the valiant general and gladiator in the monumental Spartacus movie from 1960. 

Crixus

Crixus, a brave fighter, stood out among ancient gladiators. In front of massive crowds in the arena of Capua, he was known for overcoming much bigger opponents. By 73 BC, however, Crixus had had it with the gladiatorial school and his owner, Lentulus Batiatus, and he fled and joined the illustrious Spartacus and his army of runaway slaves.

After repelling a small Roman force, the troops set up camp close to Mt. Vesuvius. During the Third Seville War, Crixus served as Spartacus' right-hand man and developed tactical battle strategies utilised against Roman forces. But Crixus and 30,000 of his supporters broke away from Spartacus in the year 73 BC.

One hypothesis holds that Crixus and his followers intended to cause havoc in Southern Italy because they wanted to exact revenge on the Roman elite. Spartacus and his surviving adherents hoped to reach Gaul and obtain independence. It's also possible that Crixus and Spartacus purposefully parted ways with intentions to reunite later, but that never happened since Crixus was killed in action. 

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