Buy new:
-37% $15.60
FREE delivery Saturday, May 11 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
$15.60 with 37 percent savings
List Price: $24.95

The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price.
Learn more
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Saturday, May 11 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery Thursday, May 9. Order within 15 hrs 47 mins
Only 10 left in stock (more on the way).
$$15.60 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$15.60
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$9.01
Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority! Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority! See less
$3.99 delivery May 13 - 17. Details
Or fastest delivery May 9 - 14. Details
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$15.60 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$15.60
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Ships from and sold by Half Price Books Inc.
Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Konstantin Nossov
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Gladiator: The Complete Guide To Ancient Rome's Bloody Fighters Paperback – Illustrated, October 4, 2011

by Konstantin Nossov (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 65 ratings
See all formats and editions
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$15.60","priceAmount":15.60,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"15","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"60","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"LuCgft1c9%2BI1v1c9coQjyhNQh7uiO6T11n4mVWPMK2AEUUq%2FIiSTOD19QNwh0GNYQldlkLkJA47MVw2hSndsvLAT3yKjo5IUdYgiKZ4zLXfdhLp5rcXVIq40wURGeL1q5BF0zn6684SYEhf0YWOQtw%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$9.01","priceAmount":9.01,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"9","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"01","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"LuCgft1c9%2BI1v1c9coQjyhNQh7uiO6T1X%2FEgzQZeGnNUcPLSACcllBZ3gl5BOv2q09IaxZm3SJdE9upWOMFzrw%2FOnzpr%2Bz2fdK6nmTmqXk55YdLPVkb7D2%2FxPxT58lZRsGTI2ZaJJrrprNqswCZ5jlROp1ei0QM1Io4%2FntvJLFA6AGE2TFgC4%2F4daLmFJ4F%2B","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons


Gladiatorial games at first served as a solemn funeral rite to honor noble citizens. At the height of their eight-century reign of popularity, the games―which constantly evolved to include new events such as combat with animals and full-scale naval battles―formed the centerpiece of a huge entertainment industry run by cunning entrepreneurs and regulated carefully by the Roman government. Professional gladiators were highly trained and often highly paid, and their ranks, for a time, included women. Slaves who became gladiators could earn their freedom in as few as four wins. They were the boxers or football players of their day.

From the author of Ancient and Medieval Siege Weapons comes this eye-opening new look at one of the most popular spectacles of ancient Rome. A richly detailed, fascinating guide, Gladiator provides a complete, breathtaking tour of gladiator customs and covers every aspect of the gladiator phenomenon―from the types of equipment the different classes of gladiator used, to the high place in society occupied by these sportsmen who were prepared to die.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    208 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Lyons Press
  4. Publication date
    October 4, 2011
  5. Dimensions
    7.5 x 0.5 x 9.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0762773936
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0762773930
  8. See all details
Next page
Books with Buzz
Books with Buzz
Discover the latest buzz-worthy books, from mysteries and romance to humor and nonfiction. Explore more

Frequently bought together

Gladiator: The Complete Guide To Ancient Rome's Bloody Fighters
$15.60
Get it as soon as Saturday, May 11
Only 10 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
The Gladiators: History's Most Deadly Sport
$13.29
Get it as soon as Saturday, May 11
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
Gladiators: 100 BC–AD 200 (Warrior)
$21.00
Get it as soon as Saturday, May 11
Only 7 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
Some of these items ship sooner than the others.
Show details Hide details
Choose items to buy together.

Editorial Reviews

Review


“A powerful survey . . . offering the newest research on gladiators to revise the standard perception of their combat, equipment, and lives and social status.” ―Bookwatch

“The richest knowledge of the history of this most interesting phenomenon―the history of the Roman arena where, in blood and gold, magnificent performances developed, which devoured enormous sums of money and took away the lives of thousands of human beings and animals. The book is based on a huge amount of ancient resources, as well as the newest findings and research.” ―Michael Gorelik, author of The Warriors of Eurasia

From the Back Cover

From the author of Ancient and Medieval Siege Weapons comes this eye-opening new look at the most popular spectacle of ancient Rome. Gladiatorial games first served as a solemn funeral rite to honor noble citizens. At the height of their eight-century reign of popularity, the games formed the centerpiece of a massive entertainment industry run by cunning entrepreneurs and regulated carefully by the government. Professional gladiators were highly trained, and their ranks even included women for a time. Slaves who became gladiators could earn their freedom in as few as four wins. A gladiator’s career lasted about four years—with an average lifespan of just eighteen to twenty-five years—but some champions survived up to 150 combats. In return for long-term contracts, they earned huge annual salaries. They were the boxers or football players of their day.
This richly illustrated, fascinating guide provides a complete, breathtaking tour of gladiator customs and covers every aspect of the gladiator phenomenon, from the types of equipment the different classes of gladiator used to the unique place in society occupied by these fighters prepared to die.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lyons Press; Reprint edition (October 4, 2011)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 208 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0762773936
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0762773930
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.05 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.5 x 0.5 x 9.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 65 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Konstantin Nossov

Konstantin Nossov

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
65 global ratings
A must have for Gladiator fans!
5 Stars
A must have for Gladiator fans!
I highly recommend this book. It uses references for its facts (personally, that is essential). Images of artifacts in the book, with current location, is also very interesting to me. Great read too!
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

Christie
5.0 out of 5 stars A must have for Gladiator fans!
Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2023
Verified Purchase
I highly recommend this book. It uses references for its facts (personally, that is essential). Images of artifacts in the book, with current location, is also very interesting to me. Great read too!
Customer image
Christie
5.0 out of 5 stars A must have for Gladiator fans!
Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2023
I highly recommend this book. It uses references for its facts (personally, that is essential). Images of artifacts in the book, with current location, is also very interesting to me. Great read too!
Images in this review
Customer image Customer image
Customer imageCustomer image
Helpful
 Report
RMF
5.0 out of 5 stars Eye-Opening
Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2022
Verified Purchase
I enjoyed the book very much and found that I had been misinformed about gladiators and the Colosseum. Much of the information I had previously read was not true. This book is a wonderful source of information.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in Roman history.
4 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Justin V
5.0 out of 5 stars A Historically Accurate Creative look into the infamous Gladiators
Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2021
Verified Purchase
This book is in perfect condition and has a very nice quality of paper and cover used in its design. The content of the book delve deep into the history of Rome and in gladiators role within the the empire of that era. I gathered tons of new information that I did not have before in regards to the specifics about the Colosseum and gladiators and everything that took place within that event. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in ancient Rome, specifically the gladiators.
6 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Richard Campbell
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2015
Verified Purchase
Probably the best book on gladiators out there.
3 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Kevin
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent information!
Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2016
Excellent information! I was inspired to read more about different armies and fighter classes of the past after reading Steven Pressfield's 'Gates of Fire' as well as his shorter work 'The Virtues of War.' There is so much more to the history of gladiators than most people will ever realize. Gladiators were more than just "slaves who fought in an arena."

I'm not sure what the difference is between this book and the author's other book 'Gladiator: Rome's Bloody Spectacle'. This just happened to be the book that was easier for me to acquire a copy of. It seems as if each topic is covered in as much detail as is known, and that nothing is left out.

Some of the topics discussed in this book include:
-Beats Hunting
-Catching Animals
-Naval Battles
-Type of Gladiators (discusses 19 types of gladiators)
-Equipment-helmet, arm-guard, greaves, shields, weapons, outfit
-Amphitheater-construction, famous amphitheatres
-Organizing Events
-Gladiatorial Schools, Training
-Social Status of Gladiators

There are also multiple tables of information, including tables that display more characteristics of some of the equipment, animals that were supplied from various parts of the world, and types of gladiators and opponents.

You will also get:
-more than 120 illustrations, diagrams, and photographs
-a glossary of more than 130 words
-more than 300 chapter notes
(As well as a bibliography and index, of course)
10 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Dennis Latham
5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Book About The Warriors of the Arena
Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2014
I'm interested in the Roman way of life and this book is great for research on the gladiators. Full of illustrations and pictures of artifacts, the author pieces together the history of the bloody gladiator games. They were not all the lean musclebound men like you see on modern shows, but many had some girth to better survive wounds that would be fatal to a slender person. A great book for entertainment and research.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Bellabella
5.0 out of 5 stars Book arrived on time
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 15, 2022
Verified Purchase
Looks good. Bought it for a Xmas present so don’t know more
Report
Halfdanr
5.0 out of 5 stars A good source of new and expanded knowledge for me.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 10, 2018
Verified Purchase
I really like this book as it goes into far more detail about gladiators than all the other books I've read on the subject to date. Inside you'll find information on the gladiator classes, their various pieces of equipment, fighting techniques used, and pictorial evidence to support some of the theories given. I'd not read much at all previously about the Arbelas or the Essedarius classes, and that there were some very specific gladiators that only existed for a small time period. I finished the book gaining more knowledge than I bad before reading, and that's the point really. For that reason I have no hesitation in recommending this book.
2 people found this helpful
 Report
Paul mccafferty
5.0 out of 5 stars Great
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 20, 2021
Verified Purchase
Great
Report
Barry Calver
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 21, 2020
Verified Purchase
Great book, very informative
Report