Italeri Gladiators D 2004

The practice of Gladiatorial fights spread fast in Roman culture. Its origin can be traced back to the munus, i.e., the practice of rich and famous personalities of sponsoring public performances during religious holidays, festivals and events. The Emperor Vespasianus built the largest amphitheater in the world for gladiatorial games: the Flavian Amphiteatre, better known as the Coliseum. The fights happened often took place between couples of different gladiator types such as the myrmillons, the thracians, the secutores, the retiarii, each characterized by his own equipment and fighting style.