Gladiatores

Scissor ("Slasher")

This was a rare type of gladiator who could also fight the retiarius. He wore the same helmet as the secutor and he, too, carried a gladius in his right hand. His sword arm was protected by a manica. He did not carry a scutum, but his left arm was tucked into a tube which ended in a blade shaped like a mincing knife. With this weapon he could slash the net of the retiarius to pieces and parry his trident. It also served to disembowel his rival. Because he could not protect his body with a shield, he wore a coat of mail (lorica hamata) or a scale armor (lorica squamata) which reached down to his knees.

Provocator ("Challenger")

This gladiatorial category is known since the late Republic and fought - like the equites - always against his own type. In the 1st century BC and 1st century AD he wore a helmet which resembled a legionary helmet. In the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD he had a helmet without a crest, but with a deep neck-guard with a visor. He had a scutum, a lunar- or bib-shaped pectorale (breast plate) and a gladius. For further protection he wore an ocrea on his left leg and a manica on his right arm.

Essedarius

This was another gladiator type who fought only against his own kind. The name is derived from the name of the Celtic chariot. Most probably the essedarii started their fights from the chariot and then dismounted - like the equites - to continue their combat on foot.

The essedarius was equipped with a manica on the sword arm, a gladius, and with gaiters or short bandages on both legs. His helmet looked similar to a legionary helmet in the 1st century BC and later on came to look like a secutor helmet.