Training began early in life and was demanding. Gladiators belonged to individual schools and were trained by a lanista, who prepared his fighters for one-on-one combat over the course of many years. Early in their careers, trainees began to specialize in one of several different fighting styles. The thraex class fought with a curved sword and a small shield. Their usual opponent was the murmillo, who was armed with a short sword and a large shield. Another popular class was the retiarius, whose equipment—a weighted net and a long trident—resembled that of a fisherman. Specific equipment combinations came with unique weaknesses, and pairing different fighters made for dynamic fights. These theatrical displays of daring helped make the gladiatorial games immensely popular among Romans.
