For most people, the word "gladiator" brings to mind either Russell Crowe as Maximus, or Kirk Douglas as Spartacus. So most of us believe that gladiators were prisoners-of-war or criminals, who were on the road continuously fighting in wild free-for-all melees. And most of us think that all gladiator bouts finished with at least one of them dying. These beliefs have (like all successful myths) some nuggets of truth, but they are basically wrong. Join discussion...