"to lob at his adversaries and keep them at bay. The ""secutores"" tried to scale the structure and get at him. The platform (called a ""pons"", ""bridge"") may have been constructed over water. Such scenarios were one of the rare situations where gladiators were not paired one on one. Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. Online version accessed 1 February 2008 Retiarius A retiarius (plural retiarii; literally, ""net-man"" or ""net-fighter"" or fisherman in Latin) was a Roman gladiator who fought with equipment styled on that of a fisherman: a weighted net (""rete"", hence the name), a three-pointed trident (""fuscina"" or ""tridens""), and"
"soldiers to fight to the death. Either 300 or 400 Romans were sacrificed in Crixus' honor. Crixus Crixus was a Gallic gladiator and military leader in the Third Servile War between the Roman Republic and rebel slaves. Born in Gaul, he was enslaved by the Romans under unknown circumstances and trained as a gladiator in Capua. His name means ""one with curly hair"" in Gaulish. In 73 BC, Crixus was part of what started as a small slave revolt in the gladiatorial training school of Lentulus Batiatus in Capua, in which about 70 gladiators escaped. The escaped slaves defeated a"
"Scissor (gladiator) The Scissor (pl. scissores) was a type of Roman gladiator. Very little is known about the gladiator besides the name, which means ""cutter, cleaver, render"" (from ""scindo""). German historian and experimental archeologist Marcus Junkelmann has propagated an idea, based on an unlabeled, unclear image that he decided might be a scissor, that this type of gladiator fought using a weapon consisting of a hardened steel tube that encased the gladiator's entire forearm, with the hand end capped off and a semicircular blade attached to it. A handle inside the tube might have allowed the gladiator to maintain control"
"Samnite (gladiator type) A Samnite (Latin Samnis, plural Samnites) was a Roman gladiator who fought with equipment styled on that of a warrior from Samnium: a short sword (""gladius""), a rectangular shield (""scutum""), a greave (ocrea), and a helmet. Warriors armed in such a way were the earliest gladiators in the Roman games. They appeared in Rome shortly after the defeat of Samnium in the 4th century BC, apparently adopted from the victory celebrations of Rome's allies in Campania. By arming low-status gladiators in the manner of a defeated foe, Romans mocked the Samnites and appropriated martial elements of their"
"indicate that the ""rete"" was circular, with a wide mesh about in diameter and lead weights along the edges. A rope ran around the perimeter of the mesh, with the ends tied to the gladiator's wrist. Because it was thrown, the net was sometimes called a ""iaculum"". The ""retiarius"" complemented his net with an iron or bronze trident (""fuscina"", ""fascina"" or, rarely, ""tridens"") that stood about as high as a human being. A skull found in a gladiator graveyard in Ephesus, Turkey, shows puncture holes consistent with a trident strike. The wounds are apart and match a bronze trident excavated"
"in the heat of battle. This weapon might have been both deadly and versatile; the gladiator could use his protected arm to block his opponent's blows and quickly counterattack, the shape of the blade being such that even the slightest touch could cause a serious wound. Scissor (gladiator) The Scissor (pl. scissores) was a type of Roman gladiator. Very little is known about the gladiator besides the name, which means ""cutter, cleaver, render"" (from ""scindo""). German historian and experimental archeologist Marcus Junkelmann has propagated an idea, based on an unlabeled, unclear image that he decided might be a scissor, that"
"and reached to just below the knee. It was made of leather and sometimes had a metal rim. He also wore an ankleband on the right ankle. The Samnite's sword arm was protected by an arm guard (""manica""); this became a common piece of equipment for most gladiators. The sword was the Samnite's most common weapon (the word ""gladiator"" comes from the Latin ""gladius"", ""sword""), but some seem to have fought with a lance instead. Samnite (gladiator type) A Samnite (Latin Samnis, plural Samnites) was a Roman gladiator who fought with equipment styled on that of a warrior from Samnium:"
"adversary, modern re-enactments and experiments show that the ""retiarius"" was by no means outmatched. His lack of heavy equipment meant that he could use speed and evasion to his advantage. He also fought with three offensive weapons to his opponent's one. The net-fighter had to avoid close combat at all costs, keep his distance, and wait for an opening to stab with his trident or throw his net. The name ""secutor"" means ""pursuer"" or ""chaser"", because this gladiator had to chase down the ""retiarius"". They were also known as ""contraretiarii"" (""those against the net-man""). The ""secutor""<nowiki>'</nowiki>s strategy was to keep"
"Crixus Crixus was a Gallic gladiator and military leader in the Third Servile War between the Roman Republic and rebel slaves. Born in Gaul, he was enslaved by the Romans under unknown circumstances and trained as a gladiator in Capua. His name means ""one with curly hair"" in Gaulish. In 73 BC, Crixus was part of what started as a small slave revolt in the gladiatorial training school of Lentulus Batiatus in Capua, in which about 70 gladiators escaped. The escaped slaves defeated a small force sent to recapture them, then made camp on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius. Word"
"from Ephesus harbour in 1989. The trident's prongs are long. A long, straight-bladed dagger (""pugio"") was the gladiator's final weapon. A tombstone found in Romania shows a ""retiarius"" holding a dagger with four spikes (known as a ""quadrens""—each spike at the corner of a square guard) instead of the usual bladed dagger. This was previously thought to be an artistic invention or perhaps a ceremonial weapon but a recently excavated femur bone from a gladiator graveyard in Ephesus has wounds consistent with the use of such a weapon. The ""retiarius"" wore minimal armour; unlike other gladiator types, he wore no"
"Thraex The Thraex (pl. Thraeces), or Thracian, was a type of Roman gladiator, armed in the Thracian style with small rectangular, square or circular shield called a ""parmula"" (about 60 x 65 cm) and a very short sword with a slightly curved blade called a ""sica"" (like a small version of the Dacian falx), intended to maim an opponent's unarmoured back. His other armour included armoured greaves (necessitated by the smallness of the shield), a protector for his sword arm and shoulder, a protective belt above a loin cloth, and a helmet with a side plume, visor and high crest."
"at the Naples National Archaeological Museum. Archaeologists have excavated three engraved shoulder guards from the gladiator barracks at Pompeii: one is engraved with illustrations of an anchor, a crab, and a dolphin; another with cupids and the head of Hercules; and a third with weapons and the inscription ""RET/SECUND"" (""""retiarius"", second rank""). Although the net (""rete"") was this gladiator's signature weapon, few depictions of the device survive. Combat with throwing nets may have occurred on ancient battlefields, but modern experiments and comparisons with modern fishing nets offer the only clues as to how the gladiatorial net was constructed. Such data"
"Priscus (gladiator) Priscus (fl. late 1st century AD) was a Roman gladiator of Celtic origins. His combat with Verus was the highlighted entertainment of the opening day games sponsored by Titus to inaugurate the Flavian Amphitheatre in AD 80. It was recorded in a laudatory poem by Martial — Liber Spectaculorum is the only known detailed description to survive of a gladiatorial fight. This laudatory poem was written to honor and to highlight all the events of Titus's games. Their fight marked the beginning of the celebration and concluded in a rare result. Both gladiators were declared victors of the"
"Gladiator A gladiator (, ""swordsman"", from , ""sword"") was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals. Some gladiators were volunteers who risked their lives and their legal and social standing by appearing in the arena. Most were despised as slaves, schooled under harsh conditions, socially marginalized, and segregated even in death. Irrespective of their origin, gladiators offered spectators an example of Rome's martial ethics and, in fighting or dying well, they could inspire admiration and popular acclaim. They were celebrated in high and"
"Patrick Bergin and Jennifer Rubin. Gladiator A gladiator (, ""swordsman"", from , ""sword"") was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals. Some gladiators were volunteers who risked their lives and their legal and social standing by appearing in the arena. Most were despised as slaves, schooled under harsh conditions, socially marginalized, and segregated even in death. Irrespective of their origin, gladiators offered spectators an example of Rome's martial ethics and, in fighting or dying well, they could inspire admiration and popular acclaim. They"
"weapon later spread all around the Muslim Empires and to Eastern Europe. As the barbarian hordes from Germania were still using clubs and maces the classical Greek civilization had mastered the art of making spears. The trident, a three pronged spear used for fishing, was a form of spear popular with the Greeks. This weapon was used in the east by the Indians who called it ""Trishul"" (three spears) and by gladiators in Rome known as retarii, or 'net-fighters', in keeping with the historical use of the trident in fishing. These net fighters would cast the net onto their enemies"
"armed and armoured. Thus, the Samnite, one of the heavier types, was an impressive sight with a fierce appearance. The Samnite may have been the first gladiator to be pitted against the ""retiarius"", a gladiator who fought with the gear of a fisherman and who was viewed as effeminate due to his light armaments. Accordingly, some ""retiarii"" may have trained as Samnites to improve their status. Gladiators who fought with a rectangular shield and sword, such as the ""provocator"", were said to be ""armed in the Samnite manner"". Such gladiators remained popular until the end of the gladiatorial games. Samnite"
"second cast. Usually, the ""retiarius"" had to rely on his trident and dagger to finish the fight. The trident, as tall as a human being, permitted the gladiator to jab quickly and keep his distance. It was a strong weapon, capable of inflicting piercing wounds on an unprotected skull or limb. The dagger was the ""retiarius""<nowiki>'</nowiki>s final backup should the trident be lost. It was reserved for when close combat or a straight wrestling match had to settle the bout. In some battles, a single ""retiarius"" faced two ""secutores"" simultaneously. For these situations, the lightly armoured gladiator was placed on"
"Spartacus Spartacus ( """"; ; c. 111–71 BC) was a Thracian gladiator who, along with the Gauls Crixus, Gannicus, Castus, and Oenomaus, was one of the escaped slave leaders in the Third Servile War, a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic. Little is known about Spartacus beyond the events of the war, and surviving historical accounts are sometimes contradictory and may not always be reliable. However, all sources agree that he was a former gladiator and an accomplished military leader. This rebellion, interpreted by some as an example of oppressed people fighting for their freedom against a slave-owning oligarchy,"
"was rounded and free of protrusions to avoid snaring the net or being caught in the trident's prongs, but attacks on it forced the ""secutor"" to duck or hide behind his shield. This reduced his field of vision and gave the ""retiarius"" an advantage with his speed. Should the ""secutor"" strike with his sword, the ""retiarius"" parried with the trident prongs and attempted to disarm him. Likewise, the more heavily armoured gladiator tried to block the trident with his shield and force the net-man to lose it. Another type of gladiator, scissor could also be pitted against a ""retiarius"". Images"
"have been matched against ""retiarii"". The ""scissor"", with whom the ""arbelas"" may be synonymous, is referred to in a roll call from the gladiator training school ""(ludus)"" owned in the 1st century BC by the ""lanista"" C. Salvius Capito. Artemidorus lists the ""arbelas"" among gladiators who might appear in dreams advising a man about what sort of woman he is to marry. Both the ""dimachaerus"", who fought with two curved blades, and the ""so-called"" ""arbelas"" signify that the woman will either be a poisoner, malicious, or ugly. Arbelas The arbelas (plural ""arbelai"") was a type of ancient Roman gladiator. The"
"XXIX: Verus (gladiator) Verus was a well-known gladiator during the reigns of the Emperors Vespasian and Titus in the later part of the 1st century. His combat with Priscus was the highlight of the opening day of the games conducted by Titus to inaugurate the Flavian Amphitheatre (later the Colosseum) in AD 80, and recorded in a laudatory poem by Martial — the only detailed description of a gladiatorial fight that has survived to the present day. Both gladiators were declared victors of the combat, and were awarded their freedom by the Emperor in a unique outcome. Martial, ""Liber de"
"Arbelas The arbelas (plural ""arbelai"") was a type of ancient Roman gladiator. The word is a ""hapax legomenon"", occurring only in the ""Oneirocritica"" of Artemidorus, a Greek work on dream interpretation that discusses the symbolism of various gladiator types. It may be related to the Greek word ""arbelos"" (ἄρβηλος), a cobbler's semicircular blade used to cut leather similar to an ulu. A few reliefs show gladiators armed with a curved blade fighting each other; it has been argued that these (possibly also fighting ""retiarii"", the net-fighters) are ""arbelai""; however, they have also been seen as the ""scissores"" who likewise may"
"Dimachaerus The dimachaeri (singular: dimachaerus) were a type of Roman gladiator that fought with two swords. The name is the Latin-language borrowing of the Greek word meaning ""bearing two knives"" ( ""dual"" + ""knife""). The dimachaeri were popular during the 2nd-4th centuries AD, and were probably considered to be ""insidious"" by many Romans. Both written and pictorial records on dimachaeri are scant and rather indeterminate. Thus, an inscription from Lyon, France, mentions such a type of gladiator, here spelled ""dymacherus"". Depictions of dimachaeri and their equipment vary in pictorial sources, so it is difficult to say exactly how, and how"
"He and the hoplomachus, with his Greek equipment, were usually pitted against the murmillo, armed like a legionary, mimicking the opposition between Roman soldiers and their various enemies. Thraex The Thraex (pl. Thraeces), or Thracian, was a type of Roman gladiator, armed in the Thracian style with small rectangular, square or circular shield called a ""parmula"" (about 60 x 65 cm) and a very short sword with a slightly curved blade called a ""sica"" (like a small version of the Dacian falx), intended to maim an opponent's unarmoured back. His other armour included armoured greaves (necessitated by the smallness of"
"fighters but as arena clowns. Nevertheless, Roman artwork, graffiti, and grave markers include examples of specific net-men who apparently had reputations as skilled combatants and lovers. Roman gladiators fell into stock ""categories"" modelled on real-world precedents. Almost all of these classes were based on military antecedents; the ""retiarius"" (""net-fighter"" or ""net-man""), which was themed after the sea, was one exception. Rare gladiator fights were staged over water; these may have given rise to the concept of a gladiator based on a fisherman. Fights between differently armed gladiators became popular in the Imperial period; the ""retiarius"" versus the scaly ""secutor"" developed"
"tribe known to the Romans to use lassos in combat, such as the Sagartians. Another possibility is that the noose gladiator was meant to represent an executioner. However, the fact that his backup weapon was sword makes this seem unlikely. Laquearius The laquearius, laquerarius, or laqueator (plural laquearii, laquerarii, and laqueatores; literally, ""snarer"") was a class of Roman gladiator that fought with a lasso or noose (""laqueus"") in one hand and a poniard or sword in the other. The ""laquearius"" appeared late in the history of the Roman games. They may have made up a full-fledged gladiator class that fought"
"(2003) about the opening of games at the Colosseum featured the historical Priscus and Verus match. In the program, they were at the time both slaves having developed their skills through the gladiatorial process; Priscus from Gaul was born a slave and Verus was born free. Verus is predominantly known because of his match with Priscus. Priscus (gladiator) Priscus (fl. late 1st century AD) was a Roman gladiator of Celtic origins. His combat with Verus was the highlighted entertainment of the opening day games sponsored by Titus to inaugurate the Flavian Amphitheatre in AD 80. It was recorded in a"
"their source culture for the mocking milieu of the Roman games. Gladiators who fought as any particular type did not necessarily hail from that ethnic background; the tombstone of a gladiator named Thelyphus is careful to point out that he fought as a Samnite but was really a Thracian. Samnite gladiators appear quite frequently in Roman artwork. Other gladiator classes were added to the roster over the years, and some of these used similar gear, especially plumed helmets, adding to the difficulty of positively identifying Samnites. Roman spectators perceived gladiators as more masculine and honourable if they were more heavily"
"as ""Thracian"" or ""Gallic"". The staged combats were considered ""munera"", ""services, offerings, benefactions"", initially distinct from the festival games ""(ludi)"". Throughout his 40-year reign, Augustus presented eight gladiator shows in which a total of 10,000 men fought, as well as 26 staged beast hunts that resulted in the deaths of 3,500 animals. To mark the opening of the Colosseum, the emperor Titus presented 100 days of arena events, with 3,000 gladiators competing on a single day. Roman fascination with gladiators is indicated by how widely they are depicted on mosaics, wall paintings, lamps, and even graffiti drawings. Gladiators were trained"
"to repel the Gallic invaders provoked a full-scale attack on Rome and the entire Roman army was destroyed at the Battle of the Allia. This crushing defeat prompted a series of military reforms by Marcus Furius Camillus. Under the new system, men were sorted into classes according to wealth, the ""triarii"" being the richest after the mounted ""equites"". ""Triarii"" were armed with spears, or ""hastae"", about 2 metres (6½ feet) long. They also carried swords, or ""gladii"", about 84 centimetres (29 inches) long, in case the spear broke or the enemy drew too close. They fought as hoplites, usually carrying"
"often a dagger (""pugio""), and, perhaps in the later empire period, darts (""plumbatae""). Conventionally, soldiers threw ""pilae"" to disable the enemy's shields and disrupt enemy formations before engaging in close combat, for which they drew the ""gladius"". A soldier generally led with the shield and thrust with the sword. All ""gladius"" types appear to have been suitable for cutting and chopping as well as thrusting. ""Gladius"" is a Latin masculine second declension noun. Its (nominative and vocative) plural is ""gladiī"". However, ""gladius"" in Latin refers to any sword, not specifically the modern definition of a ""gladius"". The word appears in"
"was used to rally the troops. It appears the normal procedure was for the officer to exchange his parazonium for a Gladius or a Spatha if he was directly threatened during a battle. Parazonium A parazonium is a long triangular dagger, wide at the hilt end and coming to a point. In the Roman mythology, it is frequently carried by Virtus, particularly on early representations. It is also sometimes carried by Mars, or Roma, or the Emperor, giving them the aura of courage. In Roman statuary, the weapon is cradled in the bearer's left arm or on Trajan's column, for"