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Gladiators' Barracks

Regio VIII, Insula 7,16

The Gladiator Barracks was a huge hostel for the gladiators of Ancient Pompeii. The building was erected in the first century BC. The building stands behind the Great Theater and was originally intended as a theater park. Viewers could walk and talk about the high and beautiful. However, the earthquake of 62 years severely damaged the building and it was rebuilt under the Gladiator Barracks.

Archaeologists have found helmets, shields, armor and other tools of labor of ancient fighters. In contrast to generally accepted stereotypes, gladiator fights did not always end with the death of one of the warriors. If the gladiator showed himself to be brave and skillful in battle, as a rule, his life was saved. Another misconception is that thumb up means saving lives while thumb down means death. In fact, a thumbs up pointed to the sword in the throat. A finger down meant an order to throw the sword on the ground and thereby save the life of the fallen gladiator.

In total there were found 18 bodies that belonged to both sexes. Here they even found a basket with the body of a child. Who was this child and how it relates to the inhabitants of the Gladiator Barracks is not entirely clear. It is possible he got there by accident.

A part of the complex of the Gladiators' Barracks was also a prison. Archaeologists have found the remains of two people who were trapped in the walls of the chamber. The prison guards apparently did not fully understand that the eruption would destroy the city before it was too late. The body of a rich woman was also found in the Gladiator barracks. We do not know what exactly she did to the gladiators hostel. This could be a coincidence, but it is possible that a woman came to her lover. Gladiators were superstars of their time, and although society condemned any connection between wealthy Roman women and slaves, this kind of relationship was the norm for that time.