Editing Gladiator (section)

===Preparations===
[[File:Nennig Roman Villa and Mosaics - 51134951379.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A duel, using whip, cudgel and shields, [[Roman mosaic|mosaic]] from a [[Roman villa]] at [[Nennig]], Germany]]
Gladiator games were advertised well beforehand, on billboards that gave the reason for the game, its editor, venue, date and the number of paired gladiators (''ordinarii'') to be used. Other highlighted features could include details of ''venationes'', executions, music and any luxuries to be provided for the spectators, such as an awning against the sun, water sprinklers, food, drink, sweets and occasionally "door prizes". For enthusiasts and gamblers, a more detailed program (''libellus'') was distributed on the day of the ''munus'', showing the names, types and match records of gladiator pairs, and their order of appearance.<ref>{{harvnb|Futrell|2006|pp=85, 101, 110}}. Based on fragmentary Pompeian remains and citing of Pliny's ''Historia Naturalis'', 19.23–25.</ref> Left-handed gladiators were advertised as a rarity; they were trained to fight right-handers, which gave them an advantage over most opponents and produced an interestingly unorthodox combination.<ref name="Coleman">{{cite web|last=Coleman|first=Kathleen|title=Gladiators: Heroes of the Roman Amphitheatre|work=BBC|date=17 February 2011|access-date=21 April 2017|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/gladiators_01.shtml}}</ref>

The night before the ''munus'', the gladiators were given a banquet and opportunity to order their personal and private affairs; Futrell notes its similarity to a ritualistic or sacramental "last meal".<ref>Plutarch. ''Moral Essays'', 1099B (fully cited in {{harvnb|Futrell|2006|pp=86–87}}): "Even among the gladiators, I see those who...find greater pleasure in freeing their slaves, and commending their wives to their friends, than in satisfying their appetites."</ref> These were probably both family and public events which included even the ''noxii'', sentenced to die in the arena the following day; and the ''damnati'', who would have at least a slender chance of survival. The event may also have been used to drum up more publicity for the imminent game.<ref name="Potter and Mattingly, 313">{{harvnb|Potter|Mattingly|1999|p=313}}.</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Futrell|2006|p=86}}. Gladiatorial banquet on mosaic, El Djem.</ref>