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The shows would begin in the morning with hunting (venationes).
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Musicians would distract the audience during the noon intermission.
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People were also condemned to death in public, damnationes ad bestia.
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In the early afternoon, the much acclaimed gladiators would arrive
with the entrance parade or pompa.
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They would move toward the center of the arena.
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A sign would list the names of the gladiators,
the number of their victories, and their troupe.
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The combat would start.
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The gladiators would face each other, protected by their shields.
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They would raise their weapons to begin the fight.
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Nets and swords were deployed and shields and helmets used for protection.
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The gladiators would fight successively in pairs.
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A referee with a long staff (rudis) would make sure that the rules were followed.
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He would separate the combatants if they were not respecting the rules.
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Finally, the referee would stop the combat by raising his staff.
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With the rudis in hand, he would ask for the opinion of the people and the judges.
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However, only the judges who financed the munus (gift to the people),
could decide on how the combat would end.
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The gladiator would ask for grace, entering his thumb toward the palm
of his hand to symbolize a sword in its sheath.
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Sometimes, the two gladiators would leave standing, both rewarded with a palm branch.
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But sometimes, as we can see on their tombstones, the outcome would be fatal.