True fairness is difficult in any avenue, and with history, such a statement could never be more accurate. Such is the case with female gladiators. Also known as a gladiatrix, these female warriors fought harsh battles against humans and animals for the entertainment of the Romans in attendance. Like most historical events, this, too, isn’t without its controversy, including the use of slavery, but not every female gladiator fought against her will. Nevertheless, these warriors were given the chance to prove their prowess far before women of many modern cultures were able to. Specifically, for America, which only allowed women to officially join the Armed Forces in 1948. Read next:Dissecting the Challenges Faced By Women in the Military vs. Their Opportunities

Were There Female Gladiators?

Yes, there were female gladiators that fought in a variety of events and even against each other. The question isn’t so much "Did women fight as gladiators in ancient Rome?" but more so "Why isn’t there more historical evidence and accounts surrounding them?" Don’t get it wrong; there's more than enough evidence proving that these brave women took center stage. Specifically, multiple events held by Nero, ancient carvings depicting such events, and archaeological finds.

What Did Female Gladiators Wear?

Shockingly, one of the more fascinating facts about female gladiators is that they fought topless with loin cloths that could fly up while fighting. This was strictly for movement and had nothing to do with the fact that it was an event held by men with largely male audience members, according to historians. Furthermore, this disparaging poem from the Roman poet Juvenal can also provide some insight: "What a great honor it is for a husband to see, at an auction, where his wife's effects are up for sale, belts, shin-guards, arm-protectors, and plumes!...Hear her grunt and groan as she works at it, parrying and thrusting. See her neck bent down under the weight of her helmet." The reason this poem is disparaging has to do with the way Romans viewed married women participating in the arena, and there will be more on that later. But looking at his words, we can draw more insight, including what other wares were worn and the not-so-surprising fact that these women may have been given a platform yet were still sexualized.

Who Was the First Female Gladiator?

The first female gladiator was… well, that’s a great question. You see, when it comes to female gladiators, their fascinating history is marked by intrigue and curiosity. Not only because of the unique path into history they present but also because not a lot is known about them. A female roman gladiator was known as a “ludia” at times. But the problem is, this same word also translates to stage performer. As if that wasn’t enough, this word can also be translated into the following involving a fellow gladiator:

• The wife of a gladiator.
• Their mistress.
• A slave that was forced to learn the ways of a gladiator at a specific school. It’s also important to note that female gladiators often had to learn at private lessons, as they weren’t allowed to attend training with the men.

Towards the end of his life, the infamous emperor of Rome, Constantine, would end up banning the bloodsport. Around 400 AD, this practice was nothing more than a deadly place in history. Combined with the end of the practice as well as the translation issues and lack of definitive historical proof, finding the first female gladiators in Rome can be difficult. In fact, finding any information about the group is a chore. Nevertheless, we may not be able to definitively pinpoint the woman that did it first, but we do know that these brave women took on arguably the deadliest sport and competed for glory.

How Many Female Gladiators Were There?

The exact number of female gladiators is also difficult to say with certainty, but it was a rare sight. Overwhelmingly, gladiators were male, and there are a few considerations as to why women gladiators weren’t as popular:

• Unlike the men, female gladiators appear to be in a voluntary situation. This wasn’t often the case with men, as slaves were used for many events as a form of entertainment.
• It may have been allowed and even celebrated at times, but women fighting in the arena were looked down upon. More specifically, if a married woman competed. This would actually contribute to the end of female gladiators after Septimius Severus worked to stop the disrespectful comments made at the time about these women.

By historical accounts, it appears that Roman gladiator women were seen as a novelty, something the Romans did like, regardless of the social aspects that frowned upon married women. Nero even used female gladiators in an event to honor his deceased mother… the one he may or may not have killed.

Did Female Gladiators Fight Male Gladiators?

There is no evidence that gladiators fought any gladiatrices in the arena. Again, the view of Roman society on women participating in such events combined with the segregation of the sexes in training points to this being a logical conclusion. But while far from perfect, there are a lot of takeaways that we can see in Roman culture that occurred thousands of years ago, which worked better towards advancing equality than America for much of its existence:

• Female warriors were allowed to engage in combat.
• Women were looked at with respect by many leaders, even to the point of changing laws to protect their status in society.

The history is there, and the present is still being written. Women in the American Armed Forces are modern-day warriors who could finally join following 1948. But there is still much work to be done for equality. Specifically, respect for women was a focal point for many in Rome. How is it respectful that unfortunate sexual assault cases and other acts of violence continue to disparage modern service as a whole? Female gladiators may be long gone, but female warriors are still here working side-by-side to keep America free. They deserve the protection to enjoy a safe work environment and continue protecting our country with the assurance that they can do so with peace of mind. Suggested read:Explore Resources for Women Vets on National Women's Equality Day

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