MVNUS • N... • IV • III PRID • IDUS • IDIBUS • MAIS T M O T _v._ PUGNAX • NER • III _v._ CYCNVS • IVL • VIII _p._ MVRRANVS • NER • III _m._ ATTICVS • IVL • XIV[5] [Footnote 5: "The games of N... from the 12th to the 15th of May. The Thracian Pugnax, of the gladiatorial school of Nero, who has fought three times will be matched against the _murmillō_ Murranus, of the same school and the same number of fights. The _hoplomachus_ Cycnus, from the school of Julius Caesar, who has fought eight times will be matched with the Thracian Atticus of the same school and of fourteen fights."] The letters in italics before the names of the gladiators were added after the exhibition by some interested spectator, and stand for _vīcit_, _periit_, and _missus_ ("beaten, but spared"). Other announcements added to such particulars as those given above the statement that other pairs than those mentioned would fight each day, this being meant to excite the curiosity and interest of the people. §362. The Fight Itself.--The day before the exhibition a banquet (_cēna lībera_) was given to the gladiators and they received visits from their friends and admirers. The games took place in the afternoon. After the _ēditor mūneris_ had taken his place (§355), the gladiators marched in procession around the arena, pausing before him to give the famous greeting: _moritūrī tē salūtant_. All then retired from the arena to return in pairs according to the published programme. The show began with a series of sham combats, the _prōlūsiō_, with blunt weapons. When the people had had enough of this the trumpets gave the signal for the real exhibition to begin. Those reluctant to fight were driven into the arena with whips or hot iron bars. If one of the combatants was clearly overpowered without being actually killed, he might appeal for mercy by holding up his finger to the _ēditor_. It was customary to refer the plea to the people, who waved cloths or napkins to show that they wished it to be granted, or pointed their thumbs downward as a signal for death. The gladiator who was refused release (_missiō_) received the death blow from his opponent without resistance. Combats where all must fight to the death were said to be _sine missiōne_, but these were forbidden by Augustus. The body of the dead man was dragged away through the _porta Libitinēnsis_, sand was sprinkled or raked over the blood, and the contests were continued until all had fought. [Illustration: FIGURE 168. TESSERA GLADIATORIA][6] [Footnote 6: _Lepidus Mummēiānī s(ervus). Spectāvit m(ense) Iuniō, C. Sentiō Cōnsule._] D • M • ET • MEMORIAE AETERNAE • HYLATIS DYMACHAERO • SIVE ASSIDARIO • P • VII • RV • I ERMAIS • CONIVX CONIVGI • KARISSIMO P • C • ET • S • AS • D[7]