Surprisingly, the metal-clad gladiators maintained their endurance and strength on a diet of legumes and grains, more specifically, a porridge-like dish called puls. A hearty, barley-based savory porridge, puls was a dish the men ate day after day for energy during the grueling training sessions. In fact, gladiators' diet even earned them the nickname "hordearii" from the ancient historian Plinius, literally meaning "barley eaters." Beyond that, they had a high nutritional content and helped gladiators increase body mass to sustain prolonged fighting. Lentils, vegetables, and other beans were also a crucial part of their diet, providing needed minerals and helping them build muscle.