Gladiators And Weapons

Question 1

Gladiatrix

Answer 1

-female gladiator- exotic rare property
-same equipment as male gladiator
-introduced during very late republic/early empire
-banned from 200AD onwards
-used own money to hire personal tutors to teach them how to fight
-lower class- seen as prostitutes and outcasts of society

Question 2

Andabatae

Answer 2

-blindfolded gladiator- helmets without eyeholes
-normally no shield or armour- only weapon was gladius
-despised by community- criminals condemned to die at gladium
-existed during Republic and disappeared during Augustan reformation
-if fell- burned with hot iron to verify he was not faking death
-> if in doubt someone disguised as Charon (boatman who led souls to Hades) finished them off with hammer blow on head
-last one standing had chance of being saved

Question 3

Hoplomachus

Answer 3

-seen during imperial period
-resemble Greek soldiers (hoplites)- usually paired against Murmillo (roman soldier)
-depicted larger Roman war against Greeks

-weapons: typically wielded a Dory spear (could attack with from long distance and protect themselves), gladius (short sword) and pugio (dagger), parmula (small round shield)- allowed to wield weapon on opposite hand

-armour: usually bear chest, only wore subligaculum (loin cloth), and high linen greaves (protect knee, shin), right arm- segmented cotton (manica) and helmet had visor, feather on both sides and a crest

-typically fought other roman gladiator classes such as Murmillo and Thraex

-used small shield to ram against enemies at start of fight- opponent lost balance and then landed strike- spear= advantage of not having to get too close to attack

Question 4

Venator

Answer 4

-fully equipped, well armoured and would wield sword and shield
-specialised in animal hunts and tricks in arena
-fought animals such as lions, bulls, rhinos…
-the more exotic the beast the better, crowds loved unusual animals
-technically not a gladiator

Question 5

Thraex

Answer 5

-wore usual loincloth and belt, protected right arm with manica
-smaller shield (parmula) so longer greaves were required to protect legs and thighs
-short sword (sica) with angled blade
-torso usually bare- demonstration of willingness to die
-trained to fight those who were right handed - left handed gladiators had huge advantage

Question 6

Retiarius

Answer 6

-paired against secutor

-naked except for loincloth (subligaculum), held in place by wide belt (balteus), manica or arm guard on left arm, and galerus (shoulder guard)

-carried weighted throwing net (rete), three-ponged trident (tridens/fuscina) and short sword or dagger (pugio)- held in left hand

-most lightly armed gladiator
-emblematic to sea
-inferior in rank and dignity because of poor weapons and half naked vulnerability

Question 7

Samnite

Answer 7

-styled on that of warrior from Samnium (inspired on defeated warriors from Samnium- humiliating)
-carried short sword, rectangular shield, greave (shin), helmet
-earliest gladiators in games
-very famous and relatable
-once Rome and Samnium made peace- stopped using Samnites

Question 8

Dimachaerus

Answer 8

-fought with 2 swords
-light armoured, focus on speed
-light, visored helmet fitted tightly, and light arm and leg protection (leather)
-word comes from Greek and mean ‘bearing two knives’
-popular during 2nd to 4th centuries AD
-considered stealthy by many

Question 9

Sagittarius

Answer 9

-mounted bowman
-etymology: Sagitta means arrow and arcus bow
-kit: short curved bows, no shield, scaled armour and pointed helmets
-took part in mock battles reflecting past Roman victories and invasions
-well payed
-had to be trusted as could kill spectator

Question 10

Laquearius

Answer 10

-fought with lasso or noose in one hand and a poniard or sword in other
-late history of games
-fought by attempting to snare enemies with lasso to allow for follow up strike from blade

Question 11

Eques

Answer 11

-ranked below senatorial class
-liable to cavalry service

Question 12

Murmillo

Answer 12

-comes from Greek word ‘Mormylos’- marine fish
-originally Gallup’s, prisoners from war from Gaul tribe in Central and Western Europe
-not very agile, had to rely on strength and armour to win
-bell-shaped helmet (galea) with decorative crests, large rectangular body shield (scutum)
-regularly paired with thraex

Question 13

Secutor

Answer 13

-armed like Murmillo- but covered entire face with exception of two small eye holes to protect face
-usually carrying short sword (gladius) or dagger
-chaser
-would run out of breath quickly if didn’t strike down opponent
-smooth round helmet
-

Question 14

Sica (weapon)

Answer 14

-long knife/ shot sword, curved around end
-used by roman gladiator Thraex
-could get around sides of opponents shield and stab them in back
-associated with criminals due to fact that it could easily be concealed under arm

Question 15

Pugio (weapon)

Answer 15

-dagger used by soldiers of legions of Roman Republic since around year 100BC to 100AD
-adopted it from Hispanic people
-‘last resort’ weapon made for stabbing

Question 16

Cestus (boxing glove)

Answer 16

-based on Greek original, which employed straps called himantes and sphirae (hard leather strips that enclosed and protected fist and lower arm)
-some fitted with studs or spikes to inflict potentially lethal injuries
-cestus fighters seemed to have had no form of body armour
-sources show them being worn in pairs

Question 17

Gladius (weapon)

Answer 17

-pointed tip could easily cut through armour and flesh
-short and light, allowing soldiers to quickly hide their hand behind shield if needed
-however, stopped using it because of new cavalry’s predominance on battlefield, which required long slashing swords to be countered
-used by ancient roman foot soldiers

Question 18

Scutum (weapon)

Answer 18

-light enough to be held in one hand
-large height and width covered entire wielder
-early versions- could fail from piercing blow
-later versions- had thicker planks and metal edges
-formed part of standard equipment issued to Roman Legionary