The Roman Gladiator
The Different Types of Gladiators
Andabata
The Andabata fought blind, as he wore a helmet that deprived him of vision.
Bestiarius
The Bestiarius was a beast-fighter.
Bustuarius
The Bustuarius was literally a "tomb fighter." The custom was to put captives to death at the graves of strong men, which later seemed a bit cruel, so it was decided to have gladiators fight at the tombs.
Cestus
The cestus was a fist-fighter or boxer who wore the cestus, a brutal forerunner of the boxing glove.
Dimachaerus
The Dimachaerus used two swords, one in each hand.
Editor
The sponsor who financed gladiatorial spectacles was the editor, "producer."
Equites
They started on horseback, but after they had thrown their lance, they dismounted and continued to fight on foot with their short sword. Generally, they only fought themselves.
Essedarius
Essedarii are simply arena-fighters.
Hoplomachus
He was equipped with a gladius and a very small, round shield. He also carried a spear, which the gladiator would have to cast before closing for hand-to-hand combat. The Hoplomachi were paired against the Myrmillones or Thraeces.
Gladiatrix
A female gladiator of any type.
Lanista
The Lanista was a trainer of a troop of gladiators. He traded in slave gladiators, and rented those he owned
out to a producer (editor) who was organizing games.
Laquearius
The Laquearius seems to have been a kind of Retiarius who tried to catch his enemies with a lasso instead of a net. He was equipped also with a dagger for use once he snared his opponent.
Lorarius
The Lorarius was an attendant who whipped reluctant combatants or animals into fighting.
Murmillo
The Murmillo carried a gladius (40–50 cm long) and a tall, oblong shield in the legionary style.
Paegniarius
The Paegniarius did not engage in serious combat with lethal weapons, but was rather an entertainer who performed "burlesque duels" during breaks. He had neither a helmet nor a shield, but wore protective wrappings on his lower legs and head.
Provocatorin
They were the only gladiators protected by a breastplate. They fought with a tall, rectangular shield and the gladius. They were paired only against other Provocatores.
Retiarius
The Retiarius ("net fighter"). He carried a trident, a dagger, and a net. The Retiarus stood on a bridge or raised platform with stairs and had a pile of fist-sized stones to throw at his opponents.
Rudiarius
A gladiator who had earned his freedom received a wooden sword (a rudis) or perhaps a wooden rod (a rudem, which was a "slender stick" used as a practice staff/sword). If he chose to remain a gladiator, he was
called a Rudiarius. These were very popular with the public as they were experienced and victors from prior fights.
Rudis
An arena referee or his assistants, named after the wooden staff (Rudis) used to direct or separate gladiators. A senior referee or trainer was known as a summa (high) Rudis.
Sagittarius
The Sagittarius was a mounted archer, armed with a reflex bow capable of propelling an arrow a great distance.
Samnite
A "Samnite" gladiator was armed with a long rectangular shield (scutum), a plumed helmet, a short sword, and probably a greave on his left leg.
Scissor
The scissor used a special short sword with two blades that looked like a pair of open scissors without a hinge.
Secutor
The Secutor ("pursuer") developed to fight the Retiarius. The helmet of the Secutor, however, covered the entire face with the exception of two small eye-holes in order to protect his face from the thin prongs of the trident of his opponent. The helmet was round and smooth so that the Retiarius' net could not get a grip on it.
Tertiarius
In some games, three men were matched against each other. The first two would fight, with the winner then fighting the third man, called the Tertiarius ("third man"). Tertiarii would also act as substitutes if an advertised gladiator was unable to fight.
Thraex
The Thraex wore the same protective armour as the Hoplomachi with a broad-rimmed helmet that enclosed the entire head. His weapon was the Thracian curved sword. They were introduced as replacements for the Gauls after Gaul made peace with Rome. They commonly fought Myrmillones or Hoplomachi.
Velites
The Velites ("skirmishers") fought on foot, each holding a spear.
Venator
The Venator ("hunter") specialized in wild animal hunts instead of fighting them as the Bestiarii did. As well as hunting, they also performed tricks with animals such as putting an arm in a lion's mouth, riding a camel
while leading lions on a lead, and making an elephant walk a tightrope. Technically, they were not gladiators.
As there were many different types of gladiators, it was unfair for some to fight the other ones. However, this such event did happen. Certain gladiators were forced to fight in an unfair fight. This may have been for entertainment for the crowd, amusement for the Emperor, or as punishment for a very serious crime.
If you had committed a very bad crime, you may be made to fight in one of the unfair fights. You would be given chances to win, but you may be given less lethal weapons or less armour protecting you. It is more amusement and excitement for the crowd. However, it is still unfair for you, if you were to fight.
If you had committed a very bad crime, you may be made to fight in one of the unfair fights. You would be given chances to win, but you may be given less lethal weapons or less armour protecting you. It is more amusement and excitement for the crowd. However, it is still unfair for you, if you were to fight.