LUDUS OPTIMUS

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LUDUS OPTIMUS
ludusOptimus
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Noster LudusOur School

• Ludus Optimus is a highly respected
  gladiatorial School, owned by Carolyn Buckingham.
  We are based in Narnia, and pride ourselves on
  the extreme skill and physical well-being of our
  gladiators. They are given the best care
  available today by our renowned cook and private
  physician, Jon Michael Darga, Esq.

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Noster LudusOur School

• We are a very unique school in our specialized
  fighting styles. Like many schools we train our
  gladiators in all varieties of fighting -
  however, our school specializes in mounted
  fighting styles. They have excellent experience
  and were trained under the direction of Esty
  Thomas.

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OUR GLADIATORS
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Our Specialty

• Ludus Optimus specialises in horse-riding
  gladiators andabates and equites.
• We purchase only the finest horses for our
  gladiators, and our magister equorum, Quintus
  Equitius, has trained horses for the Emperors
  stables.
• Our best gladiators in this area are Sextus and
  Hengestus Germanus.

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Our Top Fighters And Their Weapons

• Sigfald Britannus masterfully wields twin sicae
  (scimitars)
• Leviculus battles, undefeated, with a Thracian
  sword and a small shield (today fighting Sigfald
  Britannus)
• Occultus Draco is peerless in his use of the
  scutum (shield) and Greek sword
• Piscis Bellator reigns supreme with the net and
  fascina (harpoon)
• Hengestus Germanus presents the peak of barbarian
  warrior horsemanship
• Sextus, as a former Persian knight, displays
  skill on horseback very nearly unequalled

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The Challengers

• Pugnax Lux, formerly a Numidian cavalryman, is
  proving adept at blinded riding (today
  challenging Sextus)
• Poppaeus uses shield and gladius and is our
  best-trained secutor (today challenging Piscis
  Bellator)
• Subsidiens Tigris skillfully wields a parma
  (round shield) and hasta (lance) (today
  challenging Occultus Draco)
• Calpurnius challenges Hengestus Germanus today in
  a battle of Roman against barbarian

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THE MEDICAL PRACTICE
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What We Can Do

• Gladiatorial doctors, and doctors in general,
  have a variety of skills that they can use to
  mend wounded men. These skills include
• Trephination (cutting holes in skulls to relieve
  pain or pressure)
• Thoracic surgery (although rarely attempted,
  abdominal surgery can remove deadly arrows and
  close wounds)
• Tracheal procedures (although this is rarely
  needed, it restores breathing to damaged throats)
• Cauterization (stopping bleeding is a crucial
  part of beginning surgery)
• Remove growths (the plastic surgery of the
  Roman world)

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Herbs and Other Substances

• The use of herbs and other substances is very
  important for the well-being and fast healing of
  our gladiators
• Although there are only certain vegetable,
  animal, and mineral compounds that work well, we
  have gleaned this information from the ancient
  Egyptian doctors
• Important herbs for healing include anise, black
  hellebore, cassia, root of cucumber, cumin, root
  of cyclamen, frankincense, germander, honey, wild
  lettuce, myrrh, olive oil, opium poppy, parsnip,
  and seseli

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Medical Culture

• Although hes an uncommon and rarely seen god,
  Asclepius and his daughters Hygieia and Panacea,
  are an important part of the religion and culture
  of doctors
• While Asclepius focused more on surgical
  procedures, his daughters were known to watch
  over births

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FEEDING A CROWD
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The Foundation of the Gladiator Diet

• Gladiators had a significantly different diet
  than normal Roman citizens and even slaves
• The point of the diet was to make the gladiators
  fat yet strong- layers of fat helped protect
  vital organs
• The main basis of a gladiators diet consisted of
  barley, beans, and dried fruit

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Gladiators- The Specifics

• Popular food for the gladiators consisted of
  fermented bread made with Farro (a Roman cereal),
  Farro and orzo soup, roasted meat, dried fruit,
  fresh cheese, goat milk, and eggs
• Vegetables were a crucial part in strengthening
  warriors, and were typically onions, garlic, and
  wild lettuce
• Under no circumstances were gladiators given
  fried cakes, boiled meat, or cold drinks ever!
• Gladiators often took baths in onion juice for
  strength
• Olive oil was a very common topping for most
  dishes
• Gladiators had to consume water every day it was
  crucial for a good, healthy fight in the arena
• A common energy snack combined goat milk with
  honey and walnuts

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The Audience

• The audience wasnt the most important to feed,
  although they were ensured snacks throughout the
  day
• Common practice was to throw loaves of bread at
  the audience
• Wine, water, and soup were also popular for lunch

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The Emperor

• The Emperor, if he chooses to visit gladiatorial
  games, is known to partake in exotic and
  luxurious foods
• Wine, cakes, pastries, tarts, and bread with
  honey, cheese, and sausage almost always
  accompanied a meal
• Common food included oysters, fish, snails, and
  dormice
• The Emperor would often choose a few succulent,
  exotic meats, often consisting of pork, chicken,
  and rabbit
• If the Emperor chose to indulge a bit more, he
  would order something as exotic as flamingo or
  giraffe

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DAY OF EVENTS
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Morning Events

• Procession of Gladiators
• Battle of Lions and Tigers and Bears (Oh My!)
• Vicious Swan against Clarus Lux, the Bestiarius!
• Music will be played while lunch is prepared

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Lunchtime Events

• Our hopefully-victorious Clarus Lux will roast
  the swan for our brave Emperor and his guests
• Our gladiators will throw bread into the laps of
  spectators, wine and stew will also be available
• The executions taking place on this day will
  match 7 condemned criminals against a Liger.

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Afternoon Fight Pairings

• Sextus (Andabatus) against Pugnax Lux (Andabatus)
  
• Piscis Bellator (Retiarius) against Poppaeus
  (Secutor)
• Subsidiens Tigris (Provocator) against Occultus
  Draco (Myrmillo)
• Hengestus Germanus (Eques) against Calpurnius
  (Eques)
• Sigfald Britannus (Dimacherius) against Leviculus
  (Thraex)

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EXPENSES
Tracked by our accountant, Kathleen McBride
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Animal Prices

• Liger 6000 sestertii
• Lion 4500 sestertii
• Tiger 4500 sestertii
• Rhinoceros 5000 sestertii
• Swan 2000 sestertii

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Gladiator Prices

• 2 Andabates 6100 sestertii and 6500 sestertii
• 1 Bestiarius 6000 sestertii
• 1 Dimacherius 6850 sestertii
• 2 Equites 6150 sestertii and 6600 sestertii
• 1 Myrmillo 6550 sestertii
• 1 Provocator 6000 sestertii
• 1 Retiarius 6500 sestertii
• 1 Secutor 6300 sestertii
• 1 Thraex 6800 sestertii

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Miscellaneous Expenses

• Vegetables for soup 4 sestertii
• Sextarius Wine 4 as/bottle x15,000 bottles
• 4 horses 2050 sestertii/ horse
• Various weapons 1000 sestertii/ sword and 15000
  sestertii total