Ludus Magnus
The Ludus Magnus ( Latin for " Great School ") was the largest of the four known schools of gladiators in Rome. It was built under Emperor Domitian ( 81-96 AD) in a valley between the Esquiline and Caelian hills.
Gladiator Schools in Rome
The establishment of the gladiator school was related to the construction of the Colosseum located immediately to the west, with which it was connected by an underground passage, which started in the southwest corner of the Ludus. In the neighborhood - just across the road to the part - there were three other schools: the Ludus Dacicus, the Ludus Gallicus, and the Ludus Matutinus, specialized for bestiarii ( fighter against animals). In contrast to the nearby schools outside Rome they were not individuals, but were under the direction of imperial officials ( procurators ). The head of the Ludus Magnus earned 200,000 sesterces a year ( for comparison, the daily requirement of a worker was 4 sesterces ).
The building
The name and the time of its construction were known from ancient sources. The ruins were discovered in 1937; just 20 years later, the excavations were completed. The still visible ruins are the remains of a rebuild under Trajan ( 98-117 AD ), the level was raised by 1.5 m. The non- excavated parts can be the basis of fragments of the Forma Urbis Romae, an ancient stone city plan of Rome (early 3rd century) reconstruct.
The building was erected from ziegelverkleidetem, Roman concrete. The brick walls were partly covered with marble slabs. In the middle of the Ludus was for training a small arena (63 x 42 meters). She was surrounded by 8 rows of seats for spectators, which provided a total of 3,000 people. The watching the gladiator training was a popular pastime. The spectators could reach their seats with a small staircase outside the ranks. The actual training area was almost three meters below the ranks.
This arena was surrounded by a four-sided portico with an edge length of 100 meters. The Pillars of the two lower floors were made of travertine. Here the cells for the gladiators were - 14 at the long, 10 on the short sides of the building. They had an area of 5 x 4 meters and offered probably two gladiators space.
In the northwestern corner of one of the original four triangular fountain has been reconstructed.
The inputs were located on the main axes. The one on the Via Labicana may have been reserved for special guests, as have been found in the ranks in the immediate vicinity of prominent decorations.
Under the bank building now rises above the excavated remains of the Ludus not Magnus, foundations of another building have been discovered. It is possible that this is the armamentarium, the armory of the gladiator school.
The history of the Ludus Magnus ended in the 5th century, together with that of the Colosseum. With the end of gladiatorial combat, the school was no longer needed. The system fell into disrepair and was used as a supplier of building materials for other buildings. Part of the site was used as a cemetery.
Remains of the cells of the Gladiators
Former Fountain
Gladiator barracks in Pompeii for comparison