Travelers to Rome can feel as though they stepped into the film Gladiator when they visit a historic site by the Colosseum. Ludus Magnus, a landmark across the road from the massive monument, was the largest and most prestigious gladiatorial training school in Rome about 2,000 years ago. Vacationers who book cheap flights to Italy this spring can visit the site near the immense Colosseum to pretend to be the world's greatest gladiator.
Translated as "big training ground," Ludus Magnus was constructed by the emperor Domitian. The building stood at least two stories high and hosted approximately 130 cells for gladiators. The arena has been predominantly excavated, and the remains of seats and a VIP box are still present at the site. About 3,000 spectators would crowd into the arena to watch the gladiators exercise and prepare for their upcoming battles in the Colosseum.
With underground tunnels leading from the preparation arena to the major amphitheater, gladiators could make a grand entrance before they faced their competitor. The pairings typically consisted of two individuals with contrasting advantages and disadvantages against each other.
The fighters' strengths relied on the types of weapons they possessed and their form of protection. A murmillo gladiator, for example, had a large, oblong shield that covered his body from shoulder to calf - a protective, yet unwieldy tool.
To learn more about the brutal battles of the Roman amphitheater heroes, book cheap flights to Rome and visit the Ludus Magnus site.
