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Games did not take place very often, only several times a year. During Roman festivals, games took place throughout the day for several days. Of all games performed at the Colosseum, gladiatorial combats were the most famous. Most gladiators were slaves, criminals, or prisoners of war. Prisoners were trained at special gladiatorial schools. The Ludus Magnus was the largest school, connected to the Colosseum by an underground tunnel. There were many different kinds of gladiators, classified by the outfit and weapons used. A gladiator could become a free man if by gaining respect and surviving all his battles. He would then have the option to remain a gladiator and fight for money, if he wished. Publius Ostorius, a famous gladiator who lived in Pompeii, survived all 51 of his gladiatorial battles. Some women even volunteered to fight as gladiators. However, they were banned from fighting by Emperor Severus in 200
