Gladiator Sweat Was A Hot Commodity In The Roman World

Gladiatorial events were exciting public spectacles. The fighters could be men or women, enslaved or freeborn, and were often considered the celebrities of their time. Male gladiators were the epitome of virility and bravery and often attracted admirers. Sally Pointer from the National Museum in Cardiff, Wales put it this way:

There was a huge following of gladiators, much as they do footballers today.

This fascination informed a unique market that developed around warriors. Sweat was considered to be an aphrodisiac, so when gladiators were done with their bouts, the perspiration and oil they scraped off of their bodies with strigils were collected. It was then bottled, sold, and, according to Pointer, used as a beauty treatment.

While gladiatorial sweat was believed to be an aphrodisiac, their blood was thought to be a cure for afflictions such as epilepsy.