Gladiators were the Roman Daevas who followed the command of the sword. They expertly wielded deadly weapons and were proficient in using pole arms. To excel in various combat techniques was the only reason they lived for. The warriors worked day and night to improve their battle skills according to the characteristics of the weapon. Instead of adopting the flamboyant techniques and skills, gladiators preferred to attack the enemy with maximum power and concentration. Some of the traditional weapons used by the gladiators included:
Gladius
Gladius is the Latin term for "Sword". The weapon was specially designed for making short and powerful thrusts. It was a straight double edged sword with sharp V-shaped pointed tip and a rhomboid cross section. Short handles provided ultimate balance and projection of power. In the battlefield, gladius made a deadly combination with a rectangular shield, the scutum.
Scythe-like sica and the single-edged acinaces cavalry swords were other weapons that accompanied the warrior in the bloody fight.
Spears
Spears were used by the gladiators for both thrusting and throwing. The point of the spears were multi pronged or in the forms of tridents and fascinas.
Projectile Weapons
Bows and arrows were common matches for all gladiators. They also used sharp, heavy darts (plumbatae) and slings for surprise attack.
Daggers
Roman daggers called Pugio were the back-up weapon used by the gladiators. These daggers were very short, but with wide leaf type blades. Pugio was a perfect for close combat.
Shields
Gladiators used long oblong shields for the personal defense. The warfare essential did not only shield the gladiators but also worked to batter the opponents.
Armors
The armors used by the gladiators were modeled after the agility of the warrior. There were 26 sub-types of armors arranged according to strengths and weaknesses of the gladiator. Much also depended upon the armories available. Gladiators using projectile weapons were armored with leg padding (fascia), arm wraps (manicae) and chain mail (thorax hamata). A complete protection was provided to the gladiator with swords and dagger. They were covered with face-guards (Kalkriese), heavy helmets (Spangenhelmen -- borrowed from the Germanic tribes), and plate armor (lorica squamata). Although the armors were heavy yet the ergonomic designing provided ultimate freedom of movement during the most tensed moments.
Gladius
Gladius is the Latin term for "Sword". The weapon was specially designed for making short and powerful thrusts. It was a straight double edged sword with sharp V-shaped pointed tip and a rhomboid cross section. Short handles provided ultimate balance and projection of power. In the battlefield, gladius made a deadly combination with a rectangular shield, the scutum.
Scythe-like sica and the single-edged acinaces cavalry swords were other weapons that accompanied the warrior in the bloody fight.
Spears
Spears were used by the gladiators for both thrusting and throwing. The point of the spears were multi pronged or in the forms of tridents and fascinas.
Projectile Weapons
Bows and arrows were common matches for all gladiators. They also used sharp, heavy darts (plumbatae) and slings for surprise attack.
Daggers
Roman daggers called Pugio were the back-up weapon used by the gladiators. These daggers were very short, but with wide leaf type blades. Pugio was a perfect for close combat.
Shields
Gladiators used long oblong shields for the personal defense. The warfare essential did not only shield the gladiators but also worked to batter the opponents.
Armors
The armors used by the gladiators were modeled after the agility of the warrior. There were 26 sub-types of armors arranged according to strengths and weaknesses of the gladiator. Much also depended upon the armories available. Gladiators using projectile weapons were armored with leg padding (fascia), arm wraps (manicae) and chain mail (thorax hamata). A complete protection was provided to the gladiator with swords and dagger. They were covered with face-guards (Kalkriese), heavy helmets (Spangenhelmen -- borrowed from the Germanic tribes), and plate armor (lorica squamata). Although the armors were heavy yet the ergonomic designing provided ultimate freedom of movement during the most tensed moments.
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