The Thraex (pl. Thraeces), or Thracian, was a type of Roman gladiator, armed in the

Thracian The Thracians (; grc, Θρᾷκες ''Thrāikes''; la, Thraci) were an Indo-European speaking people who inhabited large parts of Eastern and Southeastern Europe in ancient history.. "The Thracians were an Indo-European people who occupied t ...

style with a small rectangular, square or circular shield called a '' parmula'' (about 60 x 65 cm) and a very short sword with a slightly curved blade called a ''

sica The sica was a short sword or large dagger of ancient Illyrians, Thracians and Dacians, used in Ancient Rome too, originating in the Halstatt culture. It was originally depicted as a curved sword (see the Zliten mosaic as well as numerous oil ...

'' (like a small version of the Dacian

falx The ''falx'' was a weapon with a curved blade that was sharp on the inside edge used by the Thracians and Dacians. The name was later applied to a siege hook used by the Romans. Etymology ''Falx'' is a Latin word originally meaning 'sickle' b ...

), intended to maim an opponent's unarmoured back. His other armour included armoured

greave A greave (from the Old French ''greve'' "shin, shin armour") or jambeau is a piece of armour that protects the leg. Description The primary purpose of greaves is to protect the tibia from attack. The tibia, or shinbone, is very close to the ski ...

s, a protective belt above a loincloth, and a helmet with a side plume, visor and high crest. Ludia's female gladiators used the same weapons and armour. He and the

hoplomachus A hoplomachus (pl. hoplomachi) ( hoplon meaning "equipment" in Greek) was a type of gladiator in ancient Rome, armed to resemble a Greek hoplite (soldier with heavy armor and helmet, a small, round, concave shield, a spear and a sword). The hop ...

, with his Greek equipment, were usually pitted against the

murmillo The murmillo (also sometimes spelled "mirmillo" or "myrmillo", pl. murmillones) was a type of gladiator during the Roman Imperial age. The murmillo-class gladiator was adopted in the early Imperial period to replace the earlier Gallus, named afte ...

, armed like a legionary, mimicking the opposition between Roman soldiers and their various slaves. In essence, these slaves were not trained well and died a gruesome death.

References

Bronze figurine of a gladiator - British MuseumTerracotta figurine of 2 gladiators - British Museum
*E. Köhne and C. Ewigleben (eds.). ''Gladiators and Caesars: The Power of Spectacles in Ancient Rome''. London: The British Museum Press, 2000.

External links

Fresco of a murmillo and Thracian fighting
found in Pompei in 2019 Gladiator types Roman Thrace Dacian weapons {{sport-stub

See also

References

External links