The Life of a Freed Gladiator

When they were done fighting, Roman gladiators pursued many careers...
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Chapters:
0:00 Reaching retirement
0:38 Leaving the arena
1:59 Infamia
2:30 Exhibition fighters and referees
3:32 Trainers
4:16 Curiosity Stream
5:29 Bodyguards
6:07 Legionaries
6:47 Farmers and priests
7:14 Political careers
8:21 "Friends" of wealthy ladies
9:07 Elusive antiheroes

[@toldinstone]

Go to sponsr.is/cs_toldinstone and use code TOLDINSTONE to save 25% off today. Thanks to Curiosity Stream for sponsoring today’s video!

[@MariaMartinez-researcher]

I presume this is the winner title...

[@CAP198462]

You really started something with that “thinking about Ancient Rome”, video. Congratulations, you’ve got a meme!

[@Mr.Death101]

Can you do a video on the later years of gladiator battles and how it ended or when it stopped or who stopped it and why. Thank you

[@PoliticswithPaint]

It's funny that almost all of these career-options still hold true for former athletes nowadays.

[@bossman5370]

i reckon if i had a time machine i would establish some kind of punditry career for myself. every wednesday and sunday at sunset in the forum.

[@QuantumHistorian]

@@bossman5370 You'd have stiff competition. Gossiping about public life seem to be the de facto career of all the Roman elite.

[@jakegarvin7634]

Sports are exactly the same between then and now the only difference is nowadays athletes don't specifically die on purpose

[@grant.5345]

@@bossman5370 If I had a time machine, I would probably die of a wound highly common in the Roman Empire but is easily treatable in the modern day.

[@BleachDemon707]

SILENCE CHECKMARK 🙄

[@TheDevice9]

While I think about ancient Rome daily, like any normal man, I did not know until now that there were referees in gladiatorial combat.

[@thatoneguy5856]

Same. I thought sport referees were a more modern thing

[@TheDevice9]

@@thatoneguy5856 Yeah... now I'm curious just what the rules were.

[@micshaz]

Though the concept of a referee (in the modern sense) is quite wild to imagine, remember that pankration (greek olympic wrestling) pre-dates the roman empire by a day or two, was practiced in a competitive setting with a scoring system. Of course there were rules for most combat sports; people don't want to literally coin toss their lives every single time and i'd imagine there were plenty of career "gladiators" (and similar professions) who had good careers and never actually risked their life

[@josephpercente8377]

Hourly

[@toastedt140]

​@micshaz Yeah the olympics are widely recognized as the beginning of professional sporting standards. Long Jump, Wrestling, and Pankration have rules carved into older temples. There were even diplomatic incidents between some city states because of disagreements over rules.

[@LilyLinko]

Last time I was this early, Augustus was still Octavian

[@dumoulin11]

"or duelled in the Sacred Grove of Aricia for the crown of the priest-king of Nemi." I had to check this as it really sounded like a line straight out of a fantasy novel. Turns out to be a fascinating bit of history I had never heard of. Thank you for that.

[@disrespectthemwomensubjuga5471]

LOL same! For a second I almost thought I was listening to a fantasy audiobook.

[@mamo4678]

Sounds like the best analogy would be that they were like the adult film stars of their day -- often desired, often famous and even at times rich, but also highly stigmatized!

[@ewetn1]

Thats a really great analogy.

[@whynottalklikeapirat]

“See you later, Gladiator - after a while Aedile” - Caligula and the Comets.

[@CHETinnit]

That painting of the gladiator and his fam got me!

[@daveweiss5647]

Id like to know more about these duels to become "priest king" and the cult it refers to... another great vid like always!

[@CountSpiffula]

Thats one of the grand mysteries of the period. JG Frazer wound up writing an eighteen volume encyclopedia of magic and superstition from research he did trying to get to the bottom of the myths surrounding the Rex Nemorensis.

[@LCfreeze]

@@CountSpiffula I was trying to find what you were referring to - did you mean The Golden Bough? According to Wikipedia it’s up to 12 volumes in some editions, so not exactly eighteen but still very voluminous. Thanks for the pointer 🙂

[@BeardedGuy_Tawhid]

Living until 99 in the ancient world is quite a long lifespan I would imagine

[@98Zai]

3:14 This mosaic is amazing! A video about famous or especially well preserved mosaics would be cool!

[@bigdogzone3177]

Gladiators died in the arena as a result of injury or rarely fight to the dead if they were condemmed . Gladiators did not die on daily basis as they were expensive to train and maintain and were more of an investment.

[@ChaosInCali]

Lol i like how at 7:03, you put “demonetized” to censor the private parts of the gladiators in the relief 😂

[@mysteryY2K]

a video on graffiti in ancient Rome would be absolutely fascinating!

[@Frisbieinstein]

Easy to find.

[@mysteryY2K]

@@Frisbieinstein well of course because now he has a video on it. the video did not exist when i made this comment. and even though there are videos about ancient graffiti, i wanted to hear TIS' take on it

[@blacksage2375]

Imagine petitioning the Emperor to nerf an armatore class because say the retarius spear is too long for PVP balance and they keep dominating the meta.

[@cascadianrangers728]

Thanks for plugging your book. I ordered a copy, and I look forward to reading about Elagabalus, hes my favorite

[@DeLong1]

love your content ive learned so much from this channel!!

[@jifrei]

Excited to watch this one, loved the content for years

[@bonto117]

@ToldInStone, you make my favorite historical videos. Your books are fantastic as well.

[@525Lines]

Buying the farm is a euphemism for dying but getting a farm so you won't need money anymore was a thing until very recently. I'm sure gladiators and ex-slaves would find a small estate with farming land a good place to retire.

[@SobekLOTFC]

Keep up the wonderful work, Garrett 👍

[@iEatCheese33]

Subscribed immediately after seeing this video. Well done sir!

[@NemanorTheAlmighty]

Also love your books, wish you voiced them on audible!

[@TheRealForgetfulElephant]

Thank you Garrett

[@rickb3078]

Four fifths into your new book and I am much enjoying it. Highly recommended. Thank you

[@H.G.Halberd]

damn, so many things are speculated about marcus aurelius that are completely outside his usual character

[@bodawei425]

Apart from the always interesting and informative content of your channel, I really appreciate that you don't use those cheap AI images like so many other YT channels do: you always use high quality illustrations.

[@LongFatJohnston]

dude, I saw I at least one cheap AI image. Eagle eyed viewers probably noticed more.

[@crazydave247]

The voice is AI

[@bodawei425]

@@crazydave247Don't think so

[@LauraS1]

@@crazydave247 No, that's actually Dr. Garrett Ryan's real voice. I think the reason it might come across as AI generated is because of the phrasing he uses, the way he pauses and where he pauses in sentences, and other vocal modulations one learns when one becomes a public speaker (such as politician, professor, news anchor, or other career in which public speaking plays a prominent role).

[@theprotagonist8755]

Thank you toldinstone! Here here! For he is the great scribe and orator! He quenches us lay men that thirst for knowledge from ancient rome. God speed noble man godspeed

[@michaelrredford]

Thanks!

[@Kyle_Schaff]

1:40 You did it again. These visuals are hilarious

[@jeffswail8446]

Perhaps Juvenal referred to "the sons of gladiators" in the equestrian order as an aspersion on the morals of their mothers?

[@michelleeden2272]

The new thumbnail is a huge improvement over the AI-looking thing that came before. Thank you. Aesthetics matter.

[@captain531]

get over it

[@TheRealForgetfulElephant]

@@captain531dam captain he is just giving his opinion

[@roelin360]

​@@TheRealForgetfulElephantopinions aren't worth of respect just because they're opinions, it matters what they are. However, I do not agree with the person you responded to either.

[@skrillozedd]

I love these videos, very interesting! I started cracking up at the "Demonitized" labels 😂 great work, i appreciate you putting this content out 👌

[@michaelporzio7384]

The Romans did not have movies, special effects and CGI to depict violence, they only had the real thing. How many movies and video games of today feature people meeting violent death? We are really no different. Question: if a "wild beast" won its match, what happened to it? I'm sure there were some pretty good lions, tigers and bears ("oh my") that survived their matches.

[@TheKoolbraider]

There's a very funny example of gladiator training in the movie "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum". One master was showing how to swing a mace (?) and brain the other fighter. Bad result? Next! More slaves were lined up awaiting their turn as target.

[@uncledan2u]

Original voice, original pictures. Nice storyline. Well-done 👍👍👍

[@coolandgood1010]

I'm surprised to learn that even freeborn retired Roman gladiators were infame?! I though they continued to be celebrated like how modern athletes are today!? Why would Roman gladiators be so celebrated while active gladiators then looked down upon once they're retired? Great upload.

[@machirim2805]

The best modern analogy for gladiators I think would be adult film stars. Celebrated and popular, and they can get rich, but their line of work is stigmatized (to the point that many say that they wouldn’t date an adult film star). So stigmatized that they cannot escape from its stigma even when they get into new careers. The fact that it’s scandalous if a teacher is revealed to be an ex adult film star proves this.

[@coolandgood1010]

@@machirim2805 Interesting perspective! Thanks for answering..

[@deanb4799]

Did anyone else see "Freed Alligator" at a glance? 😂 AND I clicked on it because I wanted to see how freed alligators live😂

[@Sercil00]

It's a really depressing fate. First, you fight and fail to defend your home, losing friends and family and becoming enslaved. Then, you are forced to fight countless battles against other slaves like yourself, possibly even former comrades who were enslaved alongside you. The likelihood of you dying or getting seriously wounded is high if you slip up even once, and if not, you're still doing it to other undeserving slaves. But even if you're really, really good and lucky, you may be released... but now you're at the bottom of the social hierarchy, possibly too crippled to work, poor, and a lot of your few opportunities entail going back into the arena.

[@RustyShakleford1]

Basically likke modern day contact sports most sports leave men crippled depressed and addicted to alcohol

[@shaundavenport621]

There are many excellent paintings used in many different videos depicting Gladiators. A works(book) showing as many of these paintings as possible would be very interesting to myself.Is anybody aware if any author has put a collection of these works of art together??

[@thebeatles114]

Your channel is the best history channel on KZbin, in fact it's a lot better than even the documentaries on TV, your content is award-winning stuff!

[@JelMain]

In many ways, their career options are those of retired Special Forces

[@mm-yt8sf]

were any gladiators so good looking they'd be consistently put in low risk matches? or were they too far away from the audiences to be seen in detail (and would have done better if there had been television)

[@mememan2344]

There has probably been corruption all throughout history. That's exactly how it works with favorites in boxing even now.

[@RustyShakleford1]

Ofcourse they would probably pick a crowd favorite and purposefully let him keep winning to keep the people happy

[@jojobizadTRASH]

That's a lot of Jean Leon Gerome paintings.

[@TamDNB]

Literally just finished watching gladiator. Serendipity at its best

[@f_youtubecensorshipf_nazis]

My ex wife calls mine demonetized too...

[@leomarkaable1]

Almost poetic commentary. Rare, today.

[@CornPop309]

You should do more longer form content please, alot of your video titles sound interesting but too interesting for just a 10 minute video!

[@paulkoza8652]

After visiting the arena at Nimes, France, which has a great museum dedicated to the gladiators, the exhibits there state that the gladiatorial contests eventually died out. Was this due to the bloody nature of the events, or perhaps due to the rise of christianity in the west, or the cost of sponsoring these events. I don't know. But, according to the exhibits, gladiatorial combat died out way before the end of the western empire.

[@copperlemon1]

Christianity was a major factor, though I'm sure the costs also played a role, in the west especially. Major Christian figures strongly condemned the games for the gratuitous violence and pagan elements. Other spectacles, like chariot races, would continue even under Ostrogothic rule and for much longer in the east.

[@Nadia1989]

Definitely Christianity, but it also could've become too expensive to organize. Even though gladiators were from the lowest tiers of the empire, you need housing, food, training and fighting gear and coaches.

[@doc_matter]

We are appreciating the new visual style!!!

[@BOBICKA66]

This video has changed it’s title and thumbnail so many times it’s making my god damn head spin

[@sandracardoso2602]

I know this has nothing to do with this video, but I have a sugestion: the restoration on the sistine chapel done in the 1980s and '90s

[@recursor9469]

It's interesting that Gladiators could be awarded mansions by Emperors but were not allowed to be elected to office or enlist as legionnaires.

[@antoniomoreira5921]

If anyone's interested in Traditional Roman warfare I strongly recommend Schwerpunkt's videos series

[@Silentbob515]

A minute long ad on curiosity stream? k sure

[@tomholroyd7519]

2:20 ... and ACTORS?

[@koreboredom4302]

I'm not gonna watch the video but I assume they gladiate.

[@EchoInTheKettle]

Was that the lick?

[@user-fo9gt5ri8f]

And now we have the UFC

[@thuydoan7496]

Imagine freeing a mass killer onto the streets. No wonder Rome became extinct.

[@cuttwice3905]

"Demonetized" instead of the word "Censored" is a fine, but depressing, touch.

[@jmackman]

toldnstones getting into them ai pics now. not sure what i think about it

[@wilsontheconqueror8101]

I wish Ridley Scott had used the actual Roman categories of Gladiators instead of dressing his like characters from Road Warrior!

[@fonziebulldog5786]

Great movie. 👍

[@infinidominion]

They gladiated

[@Adrfhrhg]

What is the title of the painting in the thumbnail?

[@InterestingFindings]

Gladiator Fight During Meal At Pompeii by Francesco Netti 1880

[@nathanielscreativecollecti6392]

Me who collects coins: 100,000 sestertii? Dang I could retire 3 times over on that!

[@Oldwhiteguy]

Gladiators then were much more interesting than ones of today.

[@nowhereman6019]

Idk, Mike Tyson is an incredibly interesting person.

[@obsidianjane4413]

@10:27 You really go demonetized for showing that drawing?

[@RealJohnSlinkman]

Early bird gets the knowledge

[@StormKidification]

Infame (one who commits infamia) is still an extremely typical insult of Rome to this day!

[@sumazdar]

dziękuję

[@olsaaan]

Would it be possible to do a video on stereotypes in Rome and their neighbours as well as derogatory terms used for people from different cultures?

[@williamharris8367]

I would think that such a video would draw much criticism from the cultures being negatively depicted. My ancestors, for example, were Germanic but not necessarily uncivilized barbarians -- even were they so described/considered by the Romans.

[@olsaaan]

@@williamharris8367 Yeah but that's the point of the video. It's history, not the videomaker's opinion.

[@Arkharskullson]

Please Garrett, try not to use AI. I think it detracts from the otherwise superb quality of your videos.

[@TR47]

They changed the thumbnail and title about 5-6 times. :P

[@user-eb9kw9ks6v]

1:00 Every time I hear this bro, it's always wholesome episodes. (Except for what he did to the Jews.)

[@iainballas]

If I was a rich roman, I'd hire a couple gladiators as personal bodyguards. Just the reputation alone of them would be enough to stop most from attacking, and the idea of basically having two champion heavyweight boxers hanging out with me all the time would be icing on the cake!

[@ToddiGreat-le2qu]

This guy could do " Rick Steves Europe " with a minimum of practice !

[@tylerbrickman]

Ryan, you scared me. I thought that was the other R word 😅

[@truthinesssss]

👍

[@TAEYONGISMYFATHER71]

1:23 no nosew

[@Staingo_Jenkins]

Video interaction

[@Nightscape_]

Now I want to watch some MMA.

[@CHETinnit]

Freakin pumped bro!

[@factsoverfiction7826]

@@CHETinnit 😝

[@oni-one574]

LOL - DeMONITIZED bars, hilarious.

[@prestonhanson501]

I'm sure it was like being a retired football player

[@randomvintagefilm273]

I thought they retired to Romania 😮

[@bobar57]

I clicked this wondering about wolf and jet

[@gringott12]

SPQR

[@milksteak-]

subarutus crosstrekus

[@Sundance94]

How about Russell Crowe who became emperor

[@mikew3194]

Executioners, undertakers, gladiators, and those dirty liars known as 'actors'

[@fu2201]

How did they do childbirth?

[@vicn0244]

Do we know what percentage of gladiators was freeborn? Or rather, gladiator by choice?

[@agapitoliria]

2:15 I had to laugh here, actors?! I guess artists being treated like crap is not some modern phenomena.

[@DSAK55]

Product endorsements

[@David-wn8uy]

Allotta boinga.

[@florinivan6907]

'rumor alleged' this sounds like gossip feeding on insecurities.

[@Extra_MSG]

Lose the AI thumbnail

[@chrisderidder4087]

Who cares lol

[@marcusaurelius5576]

Lived through death matches and survived to the age of 99? Is that possible without modern medicine and vaccines?

[@kyleanuar9090]

Arnold Schwarzenegger

[@choukichigaijin]

Gotta wonder if Rome was always about choosing the strongest. So the ladies getting with the gladiators was more about producing physically strong offspring. Mental strength coming from the strongest teachers of their standing. Not necessarily a scandal at all.

[@choukichigaijin]

Bloodline was passed by recognized heir. They probably didn't have the same attachment to genetics that we do.

[@choukichigaijin]

Marriages were different too.