The ''laquearius'', ''laquerarius'', or ''laqueator'' (plural ''laquearii'', ''laquerarii'', and ''laqueatores''; literally, "snarer") was a class of

Roman Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a letter ...

gladiator A gladiator ( la, gladiator, "swordsman", from , "sword") was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals. Some gla ...

that fought with a

lasso A lasso ( or ), also called lariat, riata, or reata (all from Castilian, la reata 're-tied rope'), is a loop of rope designed as a restraint to be thrown around a target and tightened when pulled. It is a well-known tool of the Spanish an ...

noose A noose is a loop at the end of a rope in which the knot tightens under load and can be loosened without untying the knot. The knot can be used to secure a rope to a post, pole, or animal but only where the end is in a position that the loop can ...

(''laqueus'') in one hand and a

poniard A poniard or ''poignard'' ( Fr.) is a long, lightweight thrusting knife with a continuously tapering, acutely pointed blade, and a cross-guard, historically worn by the upper class, noblemen, or members of the knighthood. Similar in design to a ...

sword A sword is an edged, bladed weapon intended for manual cutting or thrusting. Its blade, longer than a knife or dagger, is attached to a hilt and can be straight or curved. A thrusting sword tends to have a straighter blade with a pointed ti ...

in the other.Tegg 485.Cowper 215. The ''laquearius'' appeared late in the history of the Roman games. They may have made up a full-fledged gladiator class that fought actual bouts in the arena. If this was the case, the snarer likely followed the same tactics as the ''

retiarius A ''retiarius'' (plural ''retiarii''; literally, "net-man" in Latin) was a Roman gladiator who fought with equipment styled on that of a fisherman: a weighted net (''rete'' (3rd decl.), hence the name), a three-pointed trident (''fuscina'' or ...

'', a gladiator who wielded a throwing net and

posiedon Poseidon (; grc-gre, wikt:Ποσειδῶν, Ποσειδῶν) was one of the Twelve Olympians in Religion in ancient Greece, ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, myth, god of the sea, storms, earthquakes and horses.Burkert 1985pp. 1 ...

.Junkelmann 63. Such combat-oriented ''laquearii'' fought by attempting to snare their adversaries with the lasso to allow for a follow-up strike from the blade. The snarer's armour was probably similar to that of the ''retiarius''; it consisted mainly of a ''

'' armguard worn over the left shoulder. Another possibility is that the ''laquearius'' was a kind of ''

paegniarius There were many different types of gladiators in ancient Rome. Some of the first gladiators had been prisoner of war, prisoners-of-war, and so some of the earliest types of gladiators were experienced fighters; Gauls, Samnites, and ''Thraeces'' ( ...

'', or clown. These men fought mock battles in the arena as

comic relief Comic relief is the inclusion of a humorous character, scene, or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work, often to relieve tension. Definition Comic relief usually means a releasing of emotional or other tension resulting from a comic episo ...

between real matches. Most gladiator types were based on real-world antecedents.Baker 53. Because the Romans did not use lassos on the battlefield, it is unlikely that the ''laquearius'' was based on a Roman model. Instead, it may have been based on a

barbarian A barbarian (or savage) is someone who is perceived to be either Civilization, uncivilized or primitive. The designation is usually applied as a generalization based on a popular stereotype; barbarians can be members of any nation judged by som ...

tribe known to the Romans to use lassos in combat, such as the

Sagartians The Sagartians ( la, Sagartii; grc, Σαγάρτιοι ''Sagártioi''; Old Persian: 𐎠𐎿𐎥𐎼𐎫𐎡𐎹 ''Asagartiya'' "Sagartian"; Elamite: 𒀾𒐼𒋼𒀀𒋾𒅀 ''Aš-šá-kar-ti-ia'', Babylonian: 𒆳𒊓𒂵𒅈𒋫𒀀𒀀 KUR ...

. Another possibility is that the noose gladiator was meant to represent an

executioner An executioner, also known as a hangman or headsman, is an official who executes a sentence of capital punishment on a legally condemned person. Scope and job The executioner was usually presented with a warrant authorising or order ...

. However, the fact that his backup weapon was sword makes this seem unlikely.

Notes

References

* Baker, Alan (2002). ''The Gladiator: The Secret History of Rome's Warrior Slaves''. Da Capo Press. . * Cowper, H. S. (1906). ''The Art of Attack: Being a Study in the Development of Weapons and Appliances of Offence, from the Earliest Times to the Age of Gunpowder''. Ulverston, Lancashire: W. Holmes, Ltd., Printers. * Junkelmann, Marcus (2000). "''Familia Gladiatoris:'' The Heroes of the Amphitheatre", ''Gladiators and Caesars: The Power of Spectacle in Ancient Rome''. University of California Press. {{ISBN, 0-520-22798-0. * Tegg, Thomas, ed. (1829). "Laquearius", '' The London Encyclopædia, or Universal Dictionary of Science, Art, Literature, and Practical Mechanics, Comparing a Popular View of the Present State of Knowledge''. London: Thomas Tegg. Gladiator types

See also

Notes

References