The Samnite

The leader of our Junior Gladiators is a Samnite. By definition he is a 'heavy fighter'.

He wore a helmet with a plumed crest, called a 'Galea'. He was armed with a sword, the 'Gladius', designed to thrust and parry rather than to cut and slice.

He wore an 'Ocrea', a metal greave, on his left leg and his right arm was protected by a 'Manica' of tied linen or leather.

He carried the long, semi-cylindrical body shield, the 'Scutum', and was usually matched against the 'Retiarius', (the net man).

The Andabatus

The Andabatus group of gladiators were criminals, 'Noxii'.

They provided comic-relief as they had to fight each other wearing helmets that had no eye-holes.

They fought blind, sometimes on horse-back.

The last man standing was allowed to walk out of the 'Gate of Life'.

They wore no armour.

The Murmillo

The Murmillo wore a helmet with a stylised fish on the front, a 'Mormylos', or 'Sea Fish' from where the name derives.

He was armed with a sword, the 'Gladius' and a large shield, the 'Scutum'.

He wore an 'Ocrea', or metal greave on his left leg. His right arm was protected by a 'Manica' of tied linen or leather.

The Murmillo was a variation of the Secutor.

The Gladiatrice

Although rare, there is evidence that there were women 'Gladiatrices' under the Emperors Nero and Domitian.

Female gladiators were a 'novelty' in the games and some wealthy Roman women also fought in the arena*.

The Gladiatrice did not wear a helmet. It is thought that this was important because it emphasised the fact that they were female.

* The floor of the amphitheatre was covered in sand. The Latin word for sand is 'Harena', from which comes the word 'Arena'.

The Secutor

Secutor means 'Chaser'. He symbolised 'Vulcan' the God of Fire.

He wore a smooth, round helmet with little eye-holes. He was armed with a shield, the 'Scutum', and a sword, the 'Gladius'.

He wore an 'Ocrea', or metal greave on his left leg. His right arm was protected by a 'Manica' of tied linen or leather.

He was paired to fight the 'Retiarius', the 'Net Man', who symbolised 'Water'. This fight symbolised opposites, Fire versus Water.

The small eye-holes in the helmet were to prevent the Retiarius' Trident penetrating the eyes.

The Velitus

The Velites were named after a class of light infantry in the Roman Army.

A Velitus fought on foot and was armed with a spear called a 'Hasta'.

They also had a sword, the 'Gladius'.

They were lightly armoured, and therefore had the advantage of agility, mobility and speed.

To help their fearsome image, they sometimes wore a bearskin cloak before a match!

The Retiarius

The 'Net man'.

He was styled on a fisherman and wore no helmet.

His main weapon was a weighted net called a 'Rete'. He also carried a trident, the 'Fuscina' or 'Tridens', and a dagger, the 'Pugio'.

Net men wore tunics, 'Retiarii Tunicati' and sandals or went bare-foot.

The fighting tactics of the Retiarius was to be as 'evasive' as possible.

He was usually paired with a Samnite or Secutor.