Gladiators by M. C. Bishop

Author:M. C. Bishop [Bishop, M. C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-08-19T14:19:27+00:00

Laquearius (‘ceiling-maker’)

• Armour: shoulder guard

• Special feature: lasso, spear

• Period: Imperial

• Common opponent: arbelas; essedarius;

murmillo; secutor

tendrils surrounding them. Another pair is covered in embossed

mythological scenes, whilst a short example depicts a triumphant

gladiator holding aloft a palm branch, the sign of his victory.

Greaves were used by the Roman army during the Republican

period and were reintroduced during the early 2nd century AD

in some regions. Th ey were subsequently employed by Roman

cavalry in their games known as the hippika gymnasia , but

invariably providing protection for the knee, which cavalrymen –

unlike gladiators with large shields – needed.

Armguards

Just as with greaves, a metal armguard ( manica ) could be used

by both gladiators and infantry. Although no known gladiatorial

examples survive, a number of military examples have been

excavated and they are now understood in some detail. Th ey were

articulated on three or four leather straps that ran the full length

of the defence internally. A series of curved steel or brass plates

were riveted to the straps which overlapped upwards (from the

wrist to the shoulder) when worn on the sword arm. Th is ensured

that, when the sword arm being held horizontally was struck by

a blade, the blow was defl ected towards the inside of the elbow,

CHapter 5: Hardware and venues | 79

where the plates naturally bunched together and so were at their

thickest. If worn on the left arm (as would a retiarius) then they

might overlap downwards. The defences are sometimes depicted

with multiple straps or laces hanging loose, suggesting that they

may be ties for securing the armour to the wearer’s limb.

Another form of manica that was depicted was made up of

overlapping scales, just like the scale body armour worn by

soldiers. No example of such a scale armguard has yet been

identified amongst the archaeological material, even though

scales are common finds on military sites. However, such a

defence is shown in use on the Borghese mosaic, its grey colour

indicating either steel or tinned copper alloy scales. Many

manicae , both scale and plate, are also shown with a body strap

attached to the top of the armguard, presumably to prevent the

defence from sliding down, out of position. To be effective, like

all armour, the armguard would have to have been worn over

padding of some kind.

Shoulderguards

Replacing a shield for a retiarius, there was a shoulderguard

(traditionally identified as the galerus, although the evidence

for this term is slim at best). This rested at the top of the left

arm and afforded the wearer some protection for his face. When

combined with an armguard, it offered protection similar to that

of a shield but allowed a retiarius to hold his trident two-handed

if he so wished. They were curved at the top as well as turned

outwards, to prevent the wearer hitting his head and also deflect

blows outwards. Surviving examples from Pompeii are decorated

with various embossed motifs, including in one case a bust of

Hercules and in another various nautical elements (a steering

oar, anchor, trident, dolphin and crab!) recalling the supposed

fishing origin of the retiarius. Used together with an armguard

and padding, this would have made a good substitute for a shield.

They weighed in the region of 1 kg and were 30–35 cm in height.

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