Popular Gladiator Weapons: Tools of the Arena

Rome’s infamous Gladiators have captured the public imagination for millennia because of their brutal fights in the arenas of Rome and its provinces. While they used standard weapons such as swords and shields, exotic weapons made the games more interesting. In an environment where practicality gave way to theatrics, those who fought in the arena used weaponry and equipment that may seem outlandish but served the purpose of providing novelty to the thrill-seeking crowds.

While gladiators may have used unique weapons, they also used implements of war that were more familiar throughout the Roman world. The foremost of these was the gladius, a type of short sword, though it is important to note that the Latin word “gladius” simply means sword; the labeling of the specific weapon is a modern invention. Though there are different types, generally, the gladius is a double-edged, straight-bladed weapon that was primarily used for thrusting, though the edges do make it suitable for cutting as well. It was so commonly used that the word gladiator was derived from the word gladius, and it was the standard weapon of most gladiators.

This same sword was the standard weapon used by Rome’s legionaries and was the most common sword type in the Roman world. Fighters could also be equipped with the spatha, which has a similar design to the gladius but with a longer blade. It was generally used by Roman cavalry but found its way into the arena.

Another sword type was the gladius graecus, or the Greek sword. Like the Thraex, the Romans devised a type of gladiator based on their battlefield foes, in this case, the Greek hoplite, creating the Hoplomachus. In addition to the other equipment, they were armed with a single-handed, leaf-shaped sword that was commonly used by Greek soldiers.

While swords were common battlefield weapons used in the arena, they were not the only conventional weapon used. Other military arms made their way into the hands of gladiators. These included the spear, or hasta, which was sometimes wielded by the Hoplomachus and the Eques, gladiators who fought from horseback. These were not thrown but used as thrusting weapons.

There were thrown weapons, such as the lancea, a typical javelin, and the pilum, which featured a thin metal shaft connected to a wooden handle and was the primary ranged weapon of the Roman legions. Other weapons included the bow and arrow, the sling, and plumbate, or weighted metal dart. Though they could be used against other gladiators, ranged weapons were more commonly used in wild animal shows.

Another weapon that would not have been out of place on an ancient battlefield was the pugio, the military dagger. This small, broad dagger, with a kidney-shaped blade, was issued to Roman legionaries and used as a backup weapon by certain gladiators, such as the Retiarius.

Though technically not a weapon per se, a shield was indispensable and used by most gladiator types. Though primarily used for defense, to block and redirect incoming blows, shields could also be used offensively. The shield’s edge and the center metal boss could be slammed into the opponent, breaking bones, knocking him off balance, or could be shoved into an opponent’s face, blocking vision. The types of shield used by gladiators included the scutum, an oblong shield made from layers of wood glued together and covered in leather, or smaller square shields used by the Thraex, or small round shields covered in metal, usually bronze, used by the Hoplomachus.

While swords and shields would not have been inappropriate on a battlefield in a conventional context, gladiatorial matches were about spectacle and theatricality rather than practical efficiency. Crowds were excited to see the unexpected.

Perhaps the gladiator type with the most unusual combination of weapons was the Retiarius. This gladiator was lightly armored and one of the few types that did not wear a helmet, relying on speed and mobility to avoid wounds. Their weapons were likewise unique, the most prominent being the fascina, a trident. About the same length as a spear, this polearm had three points instead of one and barbed tips, like that of a harpoon. He also wielded a retes, a weighted net, that the gladiator was named after. The net was used in lieu of a shield, throwing it on opponents to snare them before using the trident to deliver the final blow. Obviously, this is a very nautical-themed gladiatorial type, and as such, would often face the Murmillo, the “fish man,” who had a stylized form of a fish fin on his helmet, in addition to a gladius and scutum. There was also a Secutor, which was identical to a Murmillo, but had a smooth helmet specifically designed not to get tangled in the net of the Retiarius.

Another snaring weapon was the lasso, which was wielded by the Laquerius. This was a simple rope with a loop on the end that was used to bind opponents. Unfortunately, there are few mentions of this type of gladiator or weapon, and it is unknown what other weapons this fighter would have utilized. It is possible they were a precursor or spin-off of the Retiarius, but this is purely speculation.

Another uncommon gladiatorial weapon was known either as the scissor or the arbelos, which was named after a leatherwork tool. It was a crescent or semi-circular-shaped blade, somewhat similar to an axe head, which would be attached to a metal tube that was fitted over the gladiator’s forearm. It was used to punch the opponent, the sharp blade slicing into flesh with each strike. There is a great deal of debate over the proper name for this type of weapon and the name for the gladiator who used it. The weapon seems to have fallen out of favor relatively quickly.

In addition to the regular gladiatorial matches, the Romans were also fans of combat sports, such as wrestling and boxing. Borrowed heavily from the Greeks, the Romans took the sport of pugilism one step further in terms of brutality. The Greeks used leather straps, known as himantes, to protect their hands. The Romans utilized the same concept, called the caestus, with the addition of metal studs or spikes to increase the damage done by strikes. Matches between boxers with these weapons would take place in the arena. Given the metal additions to the hand protection, blows caused severe disfigurement and probable death for those unfortunate enough to receive a direct hit. Unlike other gladiators, who fought against opponents with a wide array of weapons, boxers would only fight other boxers.

In addition to these brutal weapons, vehicles were also used in the arena. Essadarii would ride into their matches on chariots and were added to the roster of games after the conquests of Julius Caesar, who encountered Gallic warriors during his campaigns in Gaul and Britain. The Essadarii used a hasta or a gladius, and while they started the match mounted on their vehicles, they would more often than not dismount as the match progressed.

There was also a spectacle called the Naumachia, which was a mock naval battle. The arena was flooded, and the participants would fight in ships. More than likely, they would use various tactics, including conventional weapons such as swords and spears, but possibly the ships themselves, since ramming was a common naval tactic of the era.

The Romans had a different view of combat sports than we do today. In the current day, combat sports strive to be as equal as possible, with weight classes, standardized equipment, and other regulations. Results are based on the skill of the fighters rather than differences in equipment. In contrast, the Romans would pair gladiators against one another based on opposites. A gladiator with a short weapon, such as a gladius, would be paired off with a gladiator with a longer weapon, such as a spear or trident, such as the Murmillo facing the Retiarius. Likewise, the Romans believed it fair to pit a heavily armored fighter with a large shield, relying on the durability of his protective gear, against an opponent with a smaller shield and less armor who was much faster and more agile.

Like modern sports fans, the Romans wanted to see skilled opponents in a test of ability, not amateurs wildly hacking at one another. To ensure the quality of the participants, the gladiators were trained to use their specialized weapons and other equipment in schools known as ludus. The ludus was run by a Lanista, who was roughly equivalent to the manager of a sports team. Specific training was overseen either by the Lanista or by a Doctore, who was usually a former gladiator himself. They would train using wooden weapons, which were heavier than their metal counterparts, to build strength. They were blunt to avoid injury. They would also perfect their form by attacking a palus, a wooden pole stuck in the ground, which is similar to a modern boxer hitting a heavy bag.

Like a strange combination of modern combat sports and professional wrestling, the arena was a place for spectacle, where combatants risked life and limb to keep the crowd entertained. Part of this theatricality comes from the skill of the fighters but also from the weapons they used, which ranged from the commonplace to the bizarre.