In Roman law they were known as Infames ... The hoplomachus were armed to resemble a Greek hoplite, carrying a spear and a round shield. Thraex gladiators had lighter armour and were more ...

These included the spear ... 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 ...

Gladiators came from many different backgrounds. They largely came from the lower echelons of Roman society ... straight sword and a large shield that could weigh between 13 and 25 pounds.