GOOD TO BE FAT Apart from all the veggies gladiators consumed a lot of fat - the idea being that if a weapon struck, it would have to get through fat layers before reaching vital organs.
DEM BONES... Gladiators would take powders of bone ash and carbonised wood in the belief that it would reinforce the bones, but instead this awful mixture rotted the teeth.
GLADIATOR BLOOD Gladiator blood was believed to have healing properties. At the end of a combat whenever there were fatalities the blood would be drained and even sold for a high price: mostly for curing epilepsy
DYING YOUNG Due to intense and strenuous training, young gladiator's bones could became deformed, which would lead to early deaths through easy breakage and other problems.
COMMON INJURIES According to findings at a grave site in Turkey, gladiators died mostly from head wounds rather than bodily injuries.
THE DIET Largely vegetarian: vegetables, legumes, cereals. Mockingly (or perhaps jokingly) referred to as "Barley-eaters" (Hordearii).
SEX & LOVE Gladiators were often the object of desire for noble women. One such woman - Eppia - left her husband ( a senator) to run away with a gladiator
MUSCLE PREP They believed that an unction made from onions would reinforce and stimulate the muscles if rubbed on the body.
MEDICINAL HERBS In 2012 the following seeds varieties were discovered under the arena of the Coliseum in the gladiators quarters: coriander (headaches), nettle (diarrhoea), finochietto (anti-imflammatory) cumin & aniseed (digestive), sesame (circulation and to help with general aches and pains).
