Were gladiators actually very well fed?

Gladiators were actually a bit fatter than what we see in most movies. They were fed lots of carbohydrates in the form of grain or beans with maybe a bit of milk and cheese for dietary balance. read more

There’s a theory that gladiators were fat because 1) they were fed a high carbohydrate diet (carbs! OMG!) and 2) fat would supposedly protect their vital organs from edged weapons. A lot of serious historians discount this, though. read more

The modern-day take on the Gladiator places him as a slave fighting alongside brothers to escape. The reality is entirely different. They were well funded, popular and rather egocentric. read more