- Priscus (gladiator)
Priscus ("fl." late
1st century AD) was a Romangladiator of Celtic origins. His combat with his friend Verus was the highlight of the opening day of the games conducted byTitus to inaugurate the Flavian Amphitheatre in AD80 , and was recorded in a laudatory poem byMartial — the only detailed description of a gladiatorial fight that has survived to the present day. Specifically, this laudatory poem was included in Martial's work called theDe spectaculis or Epigrammaton liber, which Martial wrote to honor and highlight all the events ofTitus 's games. Their fight was on the first day of the games and marked the beginning of the celebration. Both gladiators were declared victors of the combat, and were awarded their freedom by the Emperor in a unique outcome.Actual Text
Martial ,De Spectaculis , XXIX:As Priscus and Verus each drew out the contest and the struggle between the pair long stood equal, shouts loud and often sought discharge for the combatants. But Caesar obeyed his own law (the law was that the bout go on without shield until a finger be raised). What he could do, he did, often giving dishes and presents. But an end to the even strife was found: equal they fought, equal they yielded. To both Caesar sent wooden swords and to both palms. Thus valor and skill had their reward. This has happened under no prince but you, Caesar: two fought and both won. [ Bailey, D.R. Shackleton. Martial Epigrams I. Harvard University Press, 1993. ]
Discussion
Priscus and Verus were both slaves who had risen through the gladiatorial ranks. Priscus was born a slave from Gaul, unlike Verus who was born free, and is known mainly for his battle with Priscus.
Priscus and Verus' fight occurred on the first day of the games to celebrate the opening of the
Colosseum . These games consisted mainly of gladiatorial fights, animal spectacles, and staged sea battles. [ Cancik, Hubert, Helmut Schneider, and Manfred Landfester. Brill's New Pauly Online. 2005. Brill Academic Publishers. 10 May 2007Julius Caesar , gladiator fights were a tactic used to control the mobs of Rome. It satisfied their thirst for action and directed any frustration and pent-up energy. [ Brunson, Matthew. Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire. 1st ed. Facts on File, 1994. ]Martial's recording of the battle between Priscus and Verus apparently showed a rare result. Usually, gladiatorial fights were only ended when one combatant raised a finger to signal defeat. However, surrender wasn’t the only way for a battle to end. Missio was a term used to denote when a fighter could be discharged from combat. This wasn’t a dismissal from service as a gladiator but a dismissal to return to training.
Missio occurred in two ways. One way this occurred was that one of the participants would essentially surrender but be given a reprieve. The other possibility was a draw. A draw could either be requested by the crowd or by the fighters themselves, usually with an unambiguous gesture like giving up one's sword to one's opponent. However, a draw was highly disdained. [ Coleman, Kathleen. "Missio at Halicarnassus." Harvard Studies in Classical Philology 100(2000): 487-500 ]
The battle between Priscus and Verus had a highly unusual outcome in that both fighters were declared victors. This marked a triumphant opening to the games and showed Titus in a positive light. It shows Titus' fairness in keeping to the surrender rule to the end, and it also valorizes the disciplined, skilled, and brave gladiators.
Footnotes
Other Sources
Bowman, Alan, Peter Garnsey, and Dominic Rathbone. The Cambridge Ancient History Volume XI: The High Empire, A.D. 70-192. 2nd ed. Cambridge University Press, 2000.
Hornblower, Simon, and Antony Spawforth. Oxford Classical Dictionary. 3rd ed. Oxford University Press, 2003.
Traver, Andrew G. From Polis to Empire – The Ancient World, c. 800 B.C.-A.D. 500: A Biographical Dictionary. 1st ed. Greenwood Press, 2002.
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