Gladiators received cash prizes for winning. In the event of a decisive and effective victory, the warrior received a laurel wreath. The biggest reward was the dismissal from the arena, which was shown by handing a wooden sword. Convicts and criminals, forced by the authorities to fight, were given freedom if they survived more than three years of fighting.

Killing the defeated gladiator was based on a special ritual. The loser, with one knee on the ground, grabbed the thigh of the winner, and the one holding the defeated’s helmet (head) stuck the sword into his neck or cut the throat. The loser should not have asked for mercy or showed weakness. All behaviors required proper discipline.

A fatally wounded galadiator was taken out of the arena and killed outside the public view.

Gladiators left the arena with different exits: the winner was Porta Triumphalis, and the loser Porta Sanavivari.

After defeating the rival, the victorious gladiator saluted the audience. In the event of the rival’s death, a special staging took place: two men dressed as Charon (god of death) and Hermes (divine messenger) entered the arena and approached the body of the deceased. Charon verified that the gladiator was indeed dead by hitting him with a wooden hammer; Hermes, in turn, put a hot object on his body. After confirming death, the body was taken out of the arena through the “Libitinarian” gate, and the show staff poured a fresh layer of sand to cover the traces of blood. The corpse was then taken to a nearby morgue. To be sure, the gladiator’s throat was still cut.

Most gladiators did not live to 30 years, when 50% of Roman citizens died for various reasons before the age of 25.