In ancient Rome, gladiatorial combat was one of the most popular spectator sports of the Roman Empire. Over the course of 800 years, gladiatorial combat evolved from a sacrifice for deceased ancestors in a display of combat, to a political and social tool that used many lives to gain admiration. This project’s purpose was to look into the historical background of gladiatorial combat in the Roman Empire, and to analyze the armor, weapons and combat of combatants. We were also tasked with replicating one piece of armor or weaponry used by gladiators. For this project, the weapon chosen was the Gladius, one of the most popular and iconic weapons among gladiators.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• McCrone, Sean Edmond
• Hamilton, Brian Richard
• Berdeguer, Carlos Enrique
• Edwards, Robert Alonzo

Subject

• Industry
• Culture

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-050814-231659

Keyword

• Armor
• Weapons
• History

Advisor

• Lados, Diana A.
• Thomsen, Tom Hartvig

Year

• 2014

Date created

• 2014-05-08

Location

• Worcester

Resource type

• Interactive Qualifying Project

Rights statement

• In Copyright