The arenas of ancient Rome, more specifically the Coliseum, were specially designed to allow fights of all kinds: from the standard gladiator match to fights with animals and even large scale naval battles. Themed arena battles recreating historical wars (just like they did in the real roman arena,) all the major gladiatorial styles are represented, there are animal battles, all-out slave fights (these were functionally state executions, historically) and 1vs1 matches between decorated fighters. The thraex commonly fought the murmillo or hoplomachus. Gladiator Begins has a ton of awesome shit in it. Thraex – Wore a helmet with basic arm and leg protection, a small shield, and a curved sword called a sica. The only difference in weapons and armor is that the secutor had a very tight fitting, smooth helmet to keep the net of the retiarius from catching. Secutor – The secutor was armed almost exactly like the murmillo. The retiarius commonly fought the secutor and sometimes the murmillo. This gladiator carried a weighted net, trident, and dagger into battle. Retiarius – The retiarius wore no head or leg protection and only had an arm and shoulder guard as armor. Noxii fought animals, other noxii, trained gladiators in “mock fights”, etc.
Made up of criminals and other undesirables the Emperor and his officials wanted to be rid of, the noxii fought in deplorable conditions with little to no means to defend themselves. Noxii – Although not considered gladiators, the noxii were still fighters in the arena. The hoplomachus commonly fought the thraex or murmillo. Hoplomachus – Wore a helmet with basic arm and leg protection, a very small, round shield, a gladius and a spear. The murmillo commonly fought the thraex or hoplomachus. Murmillo – Similar to the Thraex, the murmillo wore a helmet with basic arm and leg protection but carried a tall, oblong shield like the ones carried by Roman legionnaires and a gladius short sword. Missing games: FW 3. Fought other cestus or occasionally unarmed noxii. Our Rudis is an excellent and unique give for someone who has c ompleted service in the military, retired, or completed an academic. This signified his release from a slave to a freeman. A Rudis was a gift to a gladiator for a special achievement. Although underground fights could do what they wanted, official “games” (as they were called) were very strict with following the rules.īelow are the most common and well-known types of gladiators and their usual pairing:Ĭestus – Fought with spikes embedded in leather wrappings around their hands. Holiday Schedule for Engraved Awards: Any order due January 12 or sooner requires Rush Fee payment. These pairings were intended to provide the combatants with offsetting strengths and weaknesses in an effort to give the best showing. A specific type of gladiator only fought another specific type of gladiator as determined by well-established rules. When someone became a gladiator, they were assigned a specific type and style of fighting and practiced it constantly. Despite what Hollywood would have you believe, gladiators were not given random weapons, sent into the arena, and told to fight.