-600
Nemausus
-15
Construction of the roman monuments
Under the leadership of the Emperor Augustus, Nîmes became one of the most important cities of Gallia Narbonensis and had the honour of being named ‘Colonia Augusta Nemausensis’ by the Emperor himself. He equiped Nemausus with the public buildings required for the running of the city.
2nd century AD
The apogee of gladiatorial combats
Sometimes slaves, but most often freemen, the gladiators were all well trained professional fighters who were part of a troupe.
The different gladiators
Thracian
The Thracian carried a small square shield, called a parma, two large greaves on his legs, a curved blade called sica supine, an helmet with wide brim, and a crest, sometimes embellished with a griffon's head. It symbolized the very particular way in which this gladiator fought, his position when he was on guard, was like a big cat ready to pounce, while his method of attack at his opponent's large shield was reminiscent of a predator, swooping onto his pray. The Thracian attacks were extremely rapid and violent, since his aim was to make a breach in his adversary defensive wall.
Retiarus
The retiarius, armed with his trident, net and dagger, is certainly the most well-known gladiator and the most easily identifiable. This combatant, who appeared during the course of the 1st century B.C. was exceptional in every way. He was the only one to fight without a helmet, shield or shin pad. His sole protection was a manica, worn on his left arm, and prolonged by large flared shoulder piece called a galerus. This meagre defence gave him the great advantage of speed. Tactically, the retiarius would pretend to flee in order to make his opponent come after him, strike his helmet and shield with the trident attempting to produce a large shockwave and finally, trap his opponent in his net while running.
Provocator
Of all the High Empire gladiators, the provocator was the one whose equipment was most like that of contemporary soldiers. His shield, for example, was curved, rounded at the ends, and fitted with one or two handles, making it very similar to the shields of certain legionaries.
The defensive armour was completed by a grieve or shin protector, an arm protection, a breast plate and a short sword known as a gladius. Technically, the athletic movements of the provocatores were based around a series of violent blows, made with the edge of the shield, enabled him to create gaps and openings in his opponents’ defence, which he could exploit in the combat.
Secutor
When the retiarius appeared in the 1st century BC, he was paired with the murmillo. But during the following century, the murmillo evolved into the retiarius. His equipment was very like that of the murmillo. The only striking difference was in the helmet. Whereas the crest on the murmillo’s helmet was tall, wide and angular, the crest of the secutor was slim, less tall and rounded. He wore a manica made of strips of leather on his right arm, a metal greave, a long shield and a short sword called pugio. The helmet and the large shield were the secutor’s main assets to put up an effective fight against the retiarius.
Scissor
The scissor represents the final stage of evolution among the opponents of the retiarius, and he is typical of the way in which gladiatorial combat was able to adapt and evolve. His name means “the one who lacerates”. The scissor had an helmet with the hemispherical crest, a scaled brass plate which covered him completely from the neck down to the top of his thighs and two short ocreae. Finally, this atypical gladiator was equipped with a short sword and an unusual metal sleeve that finished with a half-moon which was sharpened on both sides. This weapon, used as a defence against the trident, also enabled the scissor gladiator to wield very dangerous blows and to cut the opponent’s net. A combat in which the retiarius opposed the secutor or the scissorwas the ultimate experience in armed duels.
Hoplomachus
Like the Thracian, the hoplomachus would be paired with a murmillo who was armed with a large shield. Although his defensive armour was similar to that of the Thracian, the hoplomachus's fighting weapons were different: a spear and short dagger.
Murmillo
The murmillo appeared in the 1st century B.C., and is distinctive mainly for his large shield, called a scutum, reminiscent of Roman legionary shields. His armour was made up of a wide brimmed helmet, with a very tall heavy crest, useful for striking his opponent, a manica made of strips of thick leather, a small ocrea and a short straight sword.
Thracian
The Thracian carried a small square shield, called a parma, two large greaves on his legs, a curved blade called sica supine, an helmet with wide brim, and a crest, sometimes embellished with a griffon's head. It symbolized the very particular way in which this gladiator fought, his position when he was on guard, was like a big cat ready to pounce, while his method of attack at his opponent's large shield was reminiscent of a predator, swooping onto his pray. The Thracian attacks were extremely rapid and violent, since his aim was to make a breach in his adversary defensive wall.
Retiarus
The retiarius, armed with his trident, net and dagger, is certainly the most well-known gladiator and the most easily identifiable. This combatant, who appeared during the course of the 1st century B.C. was exceptional in every way. He was the only one to fight without a helmet, shield or shin pad. His sole protection was a manica, worn on his left arm, and prolonged by large flared shoulder piece called a galerus. This meagre defence gave him the great advantage of speed. Tactically, the retiarius would pretend to flee in order to make his opponent come after him, strike his helmet and shield with the trident attempting to produce a large shockwave and finally, trap his opponent in his net while running.
Provocator
Of all the High Empire gladiators, the provocator was the one whose equipment was most like that of contemporary soldiers. His shield, for example, was curved, rounded at the ends, and fitted with one or two handles, making it very similar to the shields of certain legionaries.
The defensive armour was completed by a grieve or shin protector, an arm protection, a breast plate and a short sword known as a gladius. Technically, the athletic movements of the provocatores were based around a series of violent blows, made with the edge of the shield, enabled him to create gaps and openings in his opponents’ defence, which he could exploit in the combat.
Secutor
When the retiarius appeared in the 1st century BC, he was paired with the murmillo. But during the following century, the murmillo evolved into the retiarius. His equipment was very like that of the murmillo. The only striking difference was in the helmet. Whereas the crest on the murmillo’s helmet was tall, wide and angular, the crest of the secutor was slim, less tall and rounded. He wore a manica made of strips of leather on his right arm, a metal greave, a long shield and a short sword called pugio. The helmet and the large shield were the secutor’s main assets to put up an effective fight against the retiarius.
Scissor
The scissor represents the final stage of evolution among the opponents of the retiarius, and he is typical of the way in which gladiatorial combat was able to adapt and evolve. His name means “the one who lacerates”. The scissor had an helmet with the hemispherical crest, a scaled brass plate which covered him completely from the neck down to the top of his thighs and two short ocreae. Finally, this atypical gladiator was equipped with a short sword and an unusual metal sleeve that finished with a half-moon which was sharpened on both sides. This weapon, used as a defence against the trident, also enabled the scissor gladiator to wield very dangerous blows and to cut the opponent’s net. A combat in which the retiarius opposed the secutor or the scissorwas the ultimate experience in armed duels.
Hoplomachus
Like the Thracian, the hoplomachus would be paired with a murmillo who was armed with a large shield. Although his defensive armour was similar to that of the Thracian, the hoplomachus's fighting weapons were different: a spear and short dagger.
Murmillo
The murmillo appeared in the 1st century B.C., and is distinctive mainly for his large shield, called a scutum, reminiscent of Roman legionary shields. His armour was made up of a wide brimmed helmet, with a very tall heavy crest, useful for striking his opponent, a manica made of strips of thick leather, a small ocrea and a short straight sword.
300
The end of the Roman Games
Gradually, gladiatorial contests became increasingly bloody, and at times fighting even broke out amongst the spectators.
From 417
The Amphitheatre at the heart of history
From 1000 AD
The Maison Carrée over centuries
2005
Culturespaces becomes a delegate
On 9 July 2005, the Municipal Council of the city of Nîmes entrusted Culturespaces with the development, running and promotion of three of the city’s Roman monuments: the amphitheatre, the Maison Carrée and the Tour Magne.
2010
The first edition of the Great Roman Games
Every year, more than 400 history enthusiasts come together in Nîmes from all over France, as well as Germany and Italy, in order to re-enact the legendary Roman Games.
‘While watching a highly entertaining show, the spectators of the Grands Jeux Romains (Roman Games) in Nîmes can play an active role in an original experience of historical experimentation.’
Eric Teyssier, Lecturer in Roman History at the University of Nîmes
2019
The first edition of the Nemaus Nights
For the first time, Culturespaces will open the Nîmes Amphitheatre in the evening for a unique event especially created for the Amphitheatre. ‘Les Nuits de Nemaus’ (‘Nemausus evenings’) provides an excellent opportunity to discover Nîmes’s historical and cultural heritage.
‘Nemausus was primarily the tutelary god of Nimes, the sacred fountain sanctuary in antiquity. Some even claimed that he was the son of Hercules himself. Nîmes, the former “Colonia Augusta Nemausa”, was named after him. In the show, near the end of his life at the end of the nineteenth century, he tells his story and transports the spectators right into the soul of Nîmes!’
Christophe Beth, Director of the Nîmes Amphitheatre