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 ...

There were five types of gladiator, each with their own unique weapons. The Mirmillones were heavily armed and wore helmets decorated with fish, while the Thracians carried just a shield and ...

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.