There were many types of
gladiators in ancient Rome. Some gladiators -- like the Samnite -- were named for opponents of the Romans [see
Samnite Wars]; other types of gladiators, like the
Provacator and
Secutor, took their names from their functions: challenger and pursuer. Here are the types of weapons gladiators used and also the types of gladiators:
Weapons of the Gladiatorfascina: harpoon
galea: visored helmet
galerus: metal shoulder piece
gladius: sword
hasta: lance
iaculum: net
manicae: leather elbow or wrist bands
ocrea: metal or boiled leather greave
parma: round shield
scutum: large oblong shield
sica: curved scimitar
subligaculum: loin cloth
Types of GladiatorsAndabatae wore helmets without eye holes
Catervarii did not fight in pairs, but several together
Dimacheri fought with two swords
Equites fought on horseback
Essedarii fought from chariots like the Gauls and Britons
Hoplomachi were like the Samnites, but more heavily armed
They wore
ocrea on both legs and mail or leather cuirasses
Laqueatores used a noose to catch their adversaries
Meridiani fought in the middle of the day, after the wild beast fights
They were lightly armed
Myrmillo wore a large
galea with a fish on its crest, a manica of mail, leather or metal scales on his left arm,
ocrea on at least one leg, a
scutum and a straight Greek-styled sword
Ordinarii were the regular gladiators who fought in pairs in the ordinary way
Provocator was armed like the Samnite with a
parma and a
hasta, his opponent was often the Myrmillo
Retiarius wore a
subligaculum and a metal
galerus on the left arm
He carried a net, a dagger and a trident or tunny-fish
fascina The
Samnite used scutum and ocrea on his left leg, a
galea with a large crest and plume, and a
gladius The
Secutor carried a large oval or rectangular shield, an
ocrea on his left leg, a round or high-visored helmet,
manicae at the elbow and wrists, and a sword or dagger
Thracian wore
ocrea on both legs, a small square shield, a helmet, a
sica or the Thracian sword.