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The Gladiator Trivia Quiz

Well I'm back this time with a brand new quiz. The topic itself speaks about the quiz. You'll come across several unknown facts about the gladiators. Play and enjoy your stay.

A multiple-choice quiz by swashbuckler. Estimated time: 7 mins.

Author
swashbuckler

Time
7 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
76,350

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
20

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
10 / 20

Plays
1671

Last 3 plays: Guest 136 (13/20), Guest 84 (8/20), Guest 92 (12/20).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 20

1. The word gladiator is derived from Latin. What does it mean? Hint

Swordsman

Slave fighter

Professional fighter

Armoured combatant

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Question 2 of 20

2. Where did the gladiators originally perform? Hint

Etruscan funerals

Wedding ceremonies

Victory commemoration

Carnivals

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Question 3 of 20

3. The first Roman gladiatorial show was held on what occasion? Hint

Funeral of Brutus

Funeral of Pompey

Funeral of Caesar

Wedding ceremony of Augustus

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Question 4 of 20

4. What class of gladiator fought with a large oblong shield, a visor, a plumed helmet, and a short sword? Hint

Essedarii

Samnites

Andabatae

Thraces

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Question 5 of 20

5. What class of gladiator were armed in Gallic fashion with helmet, sword and shield ? Hint

Secutor

Thraces

Mirmillones

Retiarius

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Question 6 of 20

6. What class of gladiator used a net to trap their opponent? Hint

Andabatae

Hoplomachi

Retiarius

Dimachaeri

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Question 7 of 20

7. What kind of gladiator fought from chariots? Hint

Secutor

Samnites

Laquearii

Essedarii

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Question 8 of 20

8. These gladiators carried a short sword in each hand. Who is being talked about? Hint

Mirmillones

Laquearii

Hoplomachi

Dimachaeri

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Question 9 of 20

9. What was praelusio or prolusio? Hint

A wooden sword

A death match

A sham fight

A class of gladiator

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Question 10 of 20

10. Sometimes during the course of fighting, the spectators shouted 'Habet'. What does it mean? Hint

Kill the gladiator

Stop the fight

Bring another gladiator

The gladiator is wounded

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Question 11 of 20

11. Generally when a gladiator lost to his opponent, the spectators ordered the victor to kill the defeated gladiator. What did the spectators indicate as a gesture of killing? Hint

Turned their thumbs up

Put their arms straight out in front of them

Waved their hands in the air

Shouted to kill the conquered gladiator

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Question 12 of 20

12. And when, though rarely, the spectators had mercy on the defeated gladiator they ordered his opponent to spare his life. How did they indicate this? Hint

Waved their handkerchiefs

Raised two fingers in the air

Lifted their thumbs upward

Shouted to spare him

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Question 13 of 20

13. If a gladiator survived a number of combats what would be done to him? Hint

He would be given a harem of women

He would be discharged from further service

He would be awarded money as per his demand

He would be promoted to the rank of a soldier

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Question 14 of 20

14. Who led a famous rising in 73-71 BC?

Answer: (One Word)

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Question 15 of 20

15. Usually the gladiators were drawn from what class? Hint

Slaves

Rebels

Prisoners of war

Criminals

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Question 16 of 20

16. What emperor had women and dwarfs as gladiator? Hint

Commodus

Domitian

Claudius

Vespasian

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Question 17 of 20

17. Who was the first emperor to abolish gladiatorial games? Hint

Jovian

Justinian

Diocletian

Constantine I

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Question 18 of 20

18. Even after the abolishment, the gladiatorial games continued to take place. As a result they were again abolished by another emperor. Who was it this time? Hint

Valentinian II

Arcadius

Maxentius

Honorius

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Question 19 of 20

19. With the coming of Christianity, gladiatorial shows began to fall into disfavour.

True

False

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Question 20 of 20

20. Which Roman emperor had 5000 pairs of gladiators? Hint

Hadrian

Trajan

Septimius Severus

Titus

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The word gladiator is derived from Latin. What does it mean?

Answer: Swordsman

The term gladiator is derived from the Latin word gladius which means sword.

2. Where did the gladiators originally perform?

Answer: Etruscan funerals

It was performed with intention to give the dead man armed attendants in the next world, hence the fights were usually to the death.

3. The first Roman gladiatorial show was held on what occasion?

Answer: Funeral of Brutus

The funeral of Brutus took place in 264 BC.

4. What class of gladiator fought with a large oblong shield, a visor, a plumed helmet, and a short sword?

Answer: Samnites

Generally the gladiators were distinguished by their arms or modes of fighting. These weapons were called the the national weapons.

5. What class of gladiator were armed in Gallic fashion with helmet, sword and shield ?

Answer: Mirmillones

They were so called because of the name of the fish that served as the crest of their helmet.

6. What class of gladiator used a net to trap their opponent?

Answer: Retiarius

These gladiators wore nothing but a short tunic or apron and sought to entangle his pursuer, who was fully armed, with the cast net he carried in his right {hand;} if successful, he dispatched him with the trident he carried in his left hand.

7. What kind of gladiator fought from chariots?

Answer: Essedarii

Their mode of warfare resembled the ancient Britons.

8. These gladiators carried a short sword in each hand. Who is being talked about?

Answer: Dimachaeri

Literally dimachaeri means 'two-knife men'

9. What was praelusio or prolusio?

Answer: A sham fight

The spectacle began with a procession of the gladiators through the arena, and the proceedings opened with a sham fight with wooden swords and javelins. The signal for real fighting was given by the sound of the trumpet, and those who showed fear were driven into the arena with whips and red-hot irons.

10. Sometimes during the course of fighting, the spectators shouted 'Habet'. What does it mean?

Answer: The gladiator is wounded

During the match when a gladiator was wounded, the spectators shouted 'Habet'.

11. Generally when a gladiator lost to his opponent, the spectators ordered the victor to kill the defeated gladiator. What did the spectators indicate as a gesture of killing?

Answer: Turned their thumbs up

This is the popular view. Another view is that those who wanted the death of the defeated gladiator turned their thumbs toward their breasts as a signal to stab him. In reality, gladiators were rarely killed as it took much time to train them. Also, the thumbs down gesture was movie created (who took it from mistakenly created drawings by artists in the Middle Ages).

12. And when, though rarely, the spectators had mercy on the defeated gladiator they ordered his opponent to spare his life. How did they indicate this?

Answer: Waved their handkerchiefs

According to another view, those who wished him to be spared turned their thumbs downward as a signal to drop the sword.

13. If a gladiator survived a number of combats what would be done to him?

Answer: He would be discharged from further service

This was the customary rule. He could, however, reengage after discharge.

14. Who led a famous rising in 73-71 BC?

Answer: Spartacus

Spartacus was the leader in the Gladiatorial war though ultimately he was thwarted by the forces of Crassus. He died fighting in the battle. He escaped from a gladiatorial school in Capua along with some other fellow gladiators and hid in Mount Vesuvius where he organised his own troop. Gradually the number of rebels increased to 90,000 and his troops overran southern Italy and defeated the imperial forces twice.

15. Usually the gladiators were drawn from what class?

Answer: Slaves

They comprised the lowest social strata and were trained as gladiators in ludus (gladiatorial schools).

16. What emperor had women and dwarfs as gladiator?

Answer: Domitian

17. Who was the first emperor to abolish gladiatorial games?

Answer: Constantine I

Constantine I took this noble step in 325 AD, but apparently without much effect.

18. Even after the abolishment, the gladiatorial games continued to take place. As a result they were again abolished by another emperor. Who was it this time?

Answer: Honorius

Though Honorius (393-423) abolished gladiatorial games but it may perhaps even have continued for a century after that.

19. With the coming of Christianity, gladiatorial shows began to fall into disfavour.

Answer: True

20. Which Roman emperor had 5000 pairs of gladiators?

Answer: Trajan

Source: Author swashbuckler

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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