The crowds weren’t just offered sword-fighting ... is a bit weird. As the Roman Empire adopted Christianity, the popularity of gladiators decreased. You can’t really “love thy neighbor ...

In the 2nd and 3rd Centuries AD, long and straight, double-edged swords were the norm for the Roman armies, slightly longer than the traditional gladius. This one, found on a dog walk in 2004, could ...

and the Samnites had a sword, an oblong shield and a helmet with a visor. Finally, the Bestiarii fought wild animals. The games were so popular that successful gladiators could become extremely ...

While gladiators may have used unique weapons, they also used implements of war that were more familiar throughout the Roman world. The foremost of these was the gladius, a type of short sword ...

Commodus was eventually taken down by Roman general-cum-gladiator Maximus Decimus Meridius ... than a few brooding glances and swings of the sword that he has the chops to carry a blockbuster.