<P> Under Augustus' rule, the demand for gladiators began to exceed supply, and matches sine missione were officially banned; an economical, pragmatic development that happened to match popular notions of "natural justice". When Caligula and Claudius refused to spare defeated but popular fighters, their own popularity suffered . In general, gladiators who fought well were likely to survive . At a Pompeian match between chariot - fighters, Publius Ostorius, with previous 51 wins to his credit, was granted missio after losing to Scylax, with 26 victories . In any event, the final decision of death or life belonged to the editor, who signalled his choice with a gesture described by Roman sources as pollice verso meaning "with a turned thumb"; a description too imprecise for reconstruction of the gesture or its symbolism . Whether victorious or defeated, a gladiator was bound by oath to accept or implement his editor's decision, "the victor being nothing but the instrument of his (editor's) will ." Not all editors chose to go with the crowd, and not all those condemned to death for putting on a poor show chose to submit: </P> <P> Once a band of five retiarii in tunics, matched against the same number of secutores, yielded without a struggle; but when their death was ordered, one of them caught up his trident and slew all the victors . Caligula bewailed this in a public proclamation as a most cruel murder . </P> <P> A gladiator who was refused missio was despatched by his opponent . To die well, a gladiator should never ask for mercy, nor cry out . A "good death" redeemed the gladiator from the dishonourable weakness and passivity of defeat, and provided a noble example to those who watched: </P> <P> For death, when it stands near us, gives even to inexperienced men the courage not to seek to avoid the inevitable . So the gladiator, no matter how faint - hearted he has been throughout the fight, offers his throat to his opponent and directs the wavering blade to the vital spot . (Seneca . Epistles, 30.8) </P>

When did the gladiators fight in the colosseum