Was it possible,by chance, that there were female gladiators back during Rome's time?

Answer 1

Yes there were... it wasn't popular but they were there

Answer 2

While rare in the Roman world, female gladiators or gladiatrices (sing. gladiatrix) were present in the bloody arena sport. It is commonly accepted that Emperor Domitian was the first to employ female gladiators as a treat for those who watched the amphitheatre blood sports. They were banned around AD 200 under the rule of Emperor Severus.

In September 2000 the Museum of London announced that it had excavated a grave purported to be that of a female gladiator. The grave was located in England, and the press soon dubbed the occupant "Gladiator Girl." The grave goods found within the grave included numerous oil lamps, and one even depicted a fallen gladiator [1]. Scholars still debate if the occupant is truly a gladiator, but the evidence is intriguing but not conclusive [2]. Professor Steven Murray[3] details the existence of female gladiators in his article "Female Gladiators of the Ancient Roman World" Journal of Combative Sport 2003. [4]

The most compelling piece of evidence for the existence of female gladiators is a marble relief found in Halicarnassus and currently on display at the British Museum.[5] The relief depicts two female gladiators. With an adopted nom de guerre appearing beneath each of them (Amazon and Achillia), they are depicted in loinclothes and wearing traditional gladiator equipment such as greaves and a manica. Each is armed with a sword and shield; neither is wearing a helmet nor a shirt. Professor Kathleen Coleman[6] of Harvard University details the relief extensively in her academic manuscript "Missio at Halicarnassus" Harvard Studies in Classical Philology, 2000; 100: 487-500[7].

Historically, a strong condemnation against female gladiators was written by Juvenal, decrying the fact female gladiators were typically from upper-class families and seeking thrill and attention.

Who has not seen the dummies of wood they slash at and batter
Whether with swords or with spears, going through all the manoeuvres?
These are the girls who blast on the trumpets in honour of Flora.
Or, it may be they have deeper designs, and are really preparing
For the arena itself. How can a woman be decent
Sticking her head in a helmet, denying the sex she was born with?
Manly feats they adore, but they wouldn’t want to be men,
Poor weak things (they think), how little they really enjoy it!
What a great honour it is for a husband to see, at an auction
Where his wife’s effects are up for sale, belts, shin-guards,
Arm-protectors and plumes!
Hear her grunt and groan as she works at it, parrying, thrusting;
See her neck bent down under the weight of her helmet.
Look at the rolls of bandage and tape, so her legs look like tree-trunks,
Then have a laugh for yourself, after the practice is over,
Armour and weapons put down, and she squats as she used the vessel.
Ah, degenerate girls from the line of our praetors and consuls,
Tell us, whom have you seen got up in any such fashion,
Panting and sweating like this? No gladiator’s wench,
No tough strip-tease broad would ever so much as attempt it.

Answer 3

Oh HELL no!...LMAO

The only women who were down there with gladiators were prostitutes.

Answer 4

There was "oiled naked women wrestling", as far as I know.

Answer 5

It would seem that there were female gladiators. Take a look at this essay as it mentions many primary sources which point to their existance.

Women Gladiators?
Author: Graham Ashford 2001

Abstract:
The concept of professional female gladiators is a matter of great debate. For some it is a point of ridicule, for others it is simply an unknown facet of Rome's lethal games. It is the purpose of the essay to serve as an introduction to their historical existence and to give some of the evidence that supports their role within the sands of the arenas scattered throughout the Empire.

First Mention.
More often than not the Emperor Domitian is credited with the first use of female gladiators. Without doubt Domitian did use them, often having them fight against dwarves in elaborate shows for which he could embolden the Flavian hold as Rulers of Rome.

However, we can trace mention of females gladiators to a time prior to Domitian. Emperor Nero, under whom Domitian served, had a series of games arranged in 63AD, a full 18 years prior to Domitian taking the throne. At these games, according to Tacitus in Puteoli arranged by Patrobius, for Nero in honour of the visiting Tiridates, King of Armenian every sort of fighter fought, all Africans, and the event, included women.

Amazonia and Achillea.

A foremost piece of archaeology left of female gladiators today comes from Halicarnassus, currently held in the British Museum. The stone shows two female fighters with their names "Amazonia and Achillea" included with the two helmet less fighters. They stand opposite one another armed with swords and crouched behind scuta. At their feet are either their helmets or the head and shoulders of the watching crowd.. The inscription with them tells us that they were both allowed to walk free from the arena, presumably as a reward of their fighting ability although other possibilities present themselves this is the accepted standard for this inscription. The stone is currently dated between the First and Second Centuries AD, presumably because we know Emperor Severus declared female gladiators illegal in 200AD.

Of all the scant information left us about female gladiators this is one of the most compelling as it shows they fought against other females fighters and were taken seriously enough to have a large stone carved in their honour. It is in this stone that we can also find something of the Roman fascination for Greek legend. In the names of the two women we can find a parady of the Greek myth of Amazon being killed by Achilles.

Often, women fighters are considered the butt of jokes and much modern thought is given to the concept that the female fighter was considered a joke or a side piece by contemporary Romans. Although this may have been the case at certain events were they where made to fight against dwarves this stone alone proves that this was not always the case.

Book of Spectacles and other writings.
Due to the vast lack of imagery of the female gladiators most modern concepts of them come largely from the writings of contemporary authors.

Martial shows us something of women in his book 'On the Spectacles'. In this work he writes of the games given by Titus for the opening of the Flavian Amphitheatre 80AD. Although the work is obviously written for his patron, filled with sickly sweet words for the Emperor we can glean a lot from them on the subject of women. Juvenal writes:

"That warring Mars served you in arms unconquered suffices not, Caesar; Venus herself too serves. Of the lion laid low in Nemea's vasty vale, a deed renowned and worthy of Hercules, Fame used to sing. Dumb be ancient witness! For after all your shows, O Caesar, we declare that such things are wrought by woman's prowess now." Juvenal VI, VIb

In these few lines early in the work we can see that women were indeed involved in the combats of the festivities. However, their position in these writings talk of them more as venatores (animal fighters) rather than actual gladiators. The surrounding sections of the work are dedicated the to the various animal displays of the games. These displays normally played a larger role than that of the actual gladiator combats. It is because of the role of women, according to Martial, in heroic, legendary reenactment that Ludus Gladiatoria has a female fighting as a Greek character.

Petronius, in his work, mentions the essedaria. These women where gladiators that competed with men, the females however it seems fought from chariots in the manner of the Britons.

Juvenal (60-140AD), in his scathing attack upon women learning to fight in the Ludus gives us one of the greatest insights into the female gladiator.

"Who has not seen the dummies of wood they slash at and batter
Whether with swords or with spears, going through all the moves?
These are the girls who blast on trumpets in honour of Flora.
Or, it may be, they have deeper designs, and are really preparing for the arena itself. How can a woman be decent
Sticking her head in a helmet, denying her sex she was born with?
Manly feats they adore, but they wouldn't want to be men,
Poor weak things (they think), how little they really enjoy it!
What great honour it is for a husband to see, at an auction
Where his wife's effects are up for sale, belts, greaves,
Manica and plumes!
Hear her grunt and groan as she works at it, parrying, thrusting;
See her neck bent down under the weight of her helmet.
Look at the rolls of bandage and tape, so her legs look like tree trunks,
Then have a laugh for yourself after the practice is over,
Armour and weapons are put down, and she squats as she uses the vessel.
Ah, degenerate girls of the line of our praetors and consuls,
Tell us, whom have you seen got up in any such fashion,
Panting and sweating like this? No gladiators wench,
No tough stip-tease broad would ever so much as attempt it."
- - Juvenal.

Whatever interpretation we place upon Juvenals thoughts here there can be little doubt that female gladiators existed in his time for him to pull a this parallel upon and they seem to have been equally trained and armed as their male counter parts.

Emperor Severus.
For reasons currently unknown the female gladiator saw the end of their days in 200AD when the Emperor Severus banned them. Even though in years previous Severus had patroned contests with them in, he decided at this time they should be declared illegal.

All manner of reasons for this has been offered, the most favourable being that participation in gladiatorial training and possibly games had become so favourable among ladies of status that something had to be done. After all, it was only eight short years previous that the Antonine Dynasty had been ended with the death of Commodus. He had crossed a final taboo and was planning upon appearing in the garb of a Secutor at the Senate and proclaim himself Consul after having the Consuls Elect murdered.

Summary.

This essay has shown us that in one form or another it is an inescapable fact that the female gladiator existed. Satire by its nature is based upon reflection of surrounding culture, praise of an Emperors benevolence is based upon the facts of the day for him to look back upon and be remembered in history and carvings where made only of note worthy subjects. In each piece of small evidence we have looked at we can gain an understanding that a larger picture existed, that female gladiators not only existed but were enjoyed both technically as fighters and as a seperate spectical.

A few final words on the recent female gladiator find in London that recieved a great amount of press coverage. It is the authors opinion based upon what he has read and seen on the television that it is doubtful this was a females gladiator. While it cannot be ruled out as a possibility the evidence seems very weak at its best that this was indeed a gladiator.

As always, we are keen to discuss any points of this essay as its brevity does not allow a full examination of the issues rasied by this subject. Please feel free to contact us with your opinions.