Back Ludus Magnus German Ludus Magnus Greek Ludus Magnus Esperanto Ludus Magnus Spanish Ludus Magnus Basque Ludus Magnus Finnish Ludus Magnus French Ludus Magnus Italian Ludus Magnus Latin Ludus Magnus Dutch
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (June 2015) |
 Barracks for gladiators | |
   Ludus Magnus Shown within Augustan Rome | |
 Click on the map for a fullscreen view | |
| Coordinates | 41°53′24″N 12°29′42″E / 41.89000°N 12.49500°E |
|---|---|
The Ludus Magnus (lat.:Domus Vectiliana), also known as the Great Gladiatorial Training School, was the largest of the gladiatorial schools in Rome. It was built by the emperor Domitian (r. 81–96 C.E.) in the late first century C.E., alongside other building projects undertaken by him such as three other gladiatorial schools across the Roman Empire.
The training school is situated directly east of the Colosseum in the valley between the Esquiline and the Caelian hills, an area already occupied by Republican and Augustan structures. While there are remains that are visible today, they belong to a reconstruction that took place under the emperor Trajan (r. 98–117) where the Ludus plane was raised by about 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in).
The Ludus Magnus was essentially a gladiatorial arena where gladiators from across the Roman Empire would live, eat, and practice while undergoing gladiatorial training in preparation for fighting at the gladiatorial games held at the Colosseum. The Colosseum was where Gladiators would go to fight their opposition.