in Roman antiquity, a place where the gladiators fought; so called from its being always strewn with sand, to conceal from the view of the people the blood spilt in the combat.

ARENARIUS, in antiquity, gladiators who combated with beasts in the arena, or amphitheatre. The arenarii were slaves of the lowest rank; so that, though manumitted, they were not capable of being Roman citizens. They were the same with what were otherwise called Befiarii.