伯林

角鬥士(gladiator)

拉丁語原意為「劍手」。古代羅馬以專業格鬥士戰鬥至死的運動。角鬥士最初在伊楚利亞人的喪禮上角鬥，其用意顯然是使死者在陰間有人護衛。在羅馬城，自西元前264年開始，這種演出十分流行。到了凱撒在位期間，單場演出人數已經增到300對。圖雷真在位時期，有不同階級的5,000位角鬥士舉行角鬥。到了羅馬共和國晚期，觀眾如主張令敗者死則伸拇指向下（或以拇指指胸），如贊成恩寬則揮手帕（或根據其他說法為拇指向下）。勝者獲棕櫚枝，有時受金錢。角鬥士多次角鬥勝利後可退役。角鬥士主要是奴隸和罪犯，但有能力或長相英俊者也會受到社會大眾喜愛。由於角鬥士多被僱為衛士，有些因此而成為政治要人。圖密善喜用侏儒與婦人為角鬥士。基督教傳入之後，角鬥演出不再受歡迎，但有可能一直延續至6世紀止。亦請參閱Spartacus。

English version：

gladiator

(Latin: “swordsman”) Professional combatant in ancient Rome who engaged in fights to the death as sport. Gladiators originally performed at Etruscan funerals,the intent being to give the dead man armed attendants in the next world. At Rome gladiator matches were wildly popular from 264 BC. By the time of Julius Caesar,300 pairs would fight at a single show; by the time of Trajan,5,000 combatants of various classes would fight. In the late Roman republic,the audience called for death with thumbs downward (or thumbs toward their breasts) and for mercy with handkerchiefs (or thumbs downward,according to some sources). The victor earned palm branches or money,and after a few victories a gladiator could be freed. Most were slaves or criminals,but a talented or handsome one could become a favorite of society; since they often served as bodyguards,they occasionally became politically important. Domitian delighted in using dwarfs and women as gladiators. With the coming of Christianity the games began to fall into disfavor,but they may have continued into the 6th century. See also Spartacus.