Imperium Ancient Armory

Gladiatorial

Roman Gladiator

Gladiatorial combat was indeed a uniquely Roman invention. Its origins date back to the third century BC, when paired slaves were forced to fight as a part of a deceased person’s funeral games. It is speculated that this tradition may have been derived from the Etruscans in some form. As time wore on, specific gladiatorial types were developed, often traditionally paired with one another, which featured certain characteristics that made them formidable opponents. These were often inspired or influenced by Rome’s former enemies, incorporating certain aspects of these people’s arms and armor. But usually the connection between the gladiatorial style and the original historical foe would have been unperceivable except in a few distinctive features. Examples of this are the Thracian, Samnite, and Hoplomachus styles of gladiatorial combat.

From the Republic onwards, gladiatorial combat became dislodged from its original connection to funeral games and gradually became more and more of a sport that was enacted on the occasion of public games, either for festivals or as public works sponsored by politicians wishing to secure the good will of the public. Numerous styles of gladiator were developed, some of which were more popular than others. The most famous ones, known to us today, include the Thracian, the Myrmillo (having replaced the older style of Samnite), Retiarius, Secutor, Hoplomachus, Provocator, as well as others. There were special forms of gladiator, such as the Bestiarius, who fought with wild animals, Venatores, who hunted game, Equites, who were mounted, along with many others. It was not unheard of for there to be female gladiators - gladiatrices - but this was often frowned upon as a social convention, owing to Roman mores about gender roles. Nevertheless, there is historical evidence for the gladiatrix and such a sight would have been titillating to the Roman sense of the forbidden. Very little is known about the female types and their styles of combat. Perhaps their appearance corresponded to the male types, bare chest and all. As such, gladiators were usually slaves or condemned criminals that were owned and trained by private individuals, and as such were a very costly investment. Contrary to popular belief most gladiatorial combats did not end in death, due to the expensive nature of training and upkeep, but rather ended with one overcoming the other and drawing blood, the latter conceding the victory.

The gladiator was often armored only in a helmet and a small pectoral, if any, to cover his head and torso, being otherwise bare-chested. He usually had an arm guard on his weapon arm, and carried a shield in the other. His legs were covered either by one or two greaves, tall or short depending upon the style of combat. The Retiarius was the only gladiatorial type that was unhelmeted, due to his particular style of arms and combat. The Romans loved to compare the advantages and disadvantages of the particular types of fighter, pitting one against another, and the traditional pairs emerged as a convention.

The helmets were usually of brass and bronze, but occasionally of steel. In the classical period of gladiatorial combat, during the Empire, most helmets were full-faced, providing superior protection to that of most military helmets, and also being fairly thick in their construction. Their excessive weight corresponded to the fact that gladiatorial fights would usually last no longer than fifteen minutes, compared to the hours of potential combat on the battlefield. Such protection guarded against fatal blows, to better preserve the life of such a valuable athletic investment as a gladiator, but this feature also diminished the vision of a gladiator, acting as a handicap to make the combat more interesting. Certain types of helmet were associated with particular types of gladiator and came to be a symbol of that one’s prowess and limitations as an institution. The Myrmillo helmet was recognizable by its tall, angular crest and full, perforated visor. The Thracian was somewhat similar, but put forth a forward swept, hooked crest, that usually bore a griffon atop its point. The Secutor helmet had only two small eye holes for visibility, and was slick in its construction, having nothing that could catch the trident of his traditional opponent, the Retiarius,. Other gladiatorial types wore helmets similar to these particular types, or variations of them.

Our helmets, produced by Deepeeka, are constructed of either 16 or 18 gauge brass or steel, as per the type. Most of them are based on actual archaeological examples, while some are patterned after ancient artistic representations. As stated in our policies, while these items are constructed with an eye toward historical accuracy and are very similar to the originals, we do not recommend that you use these items for actual combat.

Gladiator Helmets

AH6201 - Deepeeka “Hoplomarchus” Helmet
Classic Myrmillo Type Helmet
1st - 4th century AD

Price: $245
Authenticity Rating: 9.75-10

This helmet, while misnamed by Deepeeka, was one of the variants of the helmet used by Myrmillones and Hoplomachoi alike. Based on an archaeological example.

AH6203B - Deepeeka Gladiator Helmet III
Classic Myrmillo Type Helmet
1st - 4th century AD

Price: $300
Authenticity Rating: 9.75-10

This helmet was one of the variants of the helmet used by Myrmillones and Hoplomachoi alike. Roughly based on archaeological examples and artistic evidence.

AH6205 - Deepeeka Secutor
Classic Secutor Helmet
1st - 4th century AD

Price: $195
Authenticity Rating: 9.75-10

This helmet, made in steel, is based on artistic evidence connected to the type of gladiator known as the Secutor. He was the traditional opponent of the net-bearing Retiarius.

AH6206 - Deepeeka “Thracian” Helmet I
Variant of the Classic Myrmillo Helmet
1st - 4th century AD

Price: $245
Authenticity Rating: 9.5

This helmet, while misnamed by Deepeeka, was one of the variants of the helmet used by Myrmillones and Hoplomachoi alike. Based on artistic evidence. Its distinguishing feature is the tall, angular crest that is associated with the Myrmillo, rather than that of the Thracian.

AH6207 - Deepeeka “Thracian” Helmet II
Variant of the Classic Myrmillo Helmet
1st - 4th century AD

Price: $245
Authenticity Rating: 9.5

AH6208B - Deepeeka Gladiator Thraex (Brass)
Classic Thracian Type Helmet
1st - 3rd century AD

Price: $330
Authenticity Rating: 9.75-10

This helmet, fashioned in brass, is largely based on historical examples, such as the one housed in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples. It bears the forward-swept hook-like crest, with a griffon at its peak. Its face is fully covered and is designed in a modular fashion.

AH6209 - Deepeeka Secutor ‘Herculaneum’ Helmet
Secutor Helmet
1st - 4th century AD

Price: $260
Authenticity Rating: 9.75-10

This helmet, made in brass, is based on the archaeological example found at Herculaneum, and is connected to the type of gladiator known as the Secutor. He was the traditional opponent of the net-bearing Retiarius.

Gladiator Arms and Armor

AH6232B - Gladiator Shoulder Guard (Brass)
Classic Retiarius Gladiator Shoulder Guard
1st - 4th century AD

Price: $115
Authenticity Rating: 9.75-10

This is the classic shoulder guard worn by the Retiarius as well as other gladiators. It is largely based on archaeological examples and artistic evidence.

AH6251 - Deepeeka Gladiator Dolch
Classic Gladiator Short Dagger
1st - 4th century AD

Price: $65
Authenticity Rating: 9

This is a classic feature of gladiator weaponry, used by some instead of the larger gladius. It is based off of archaeological finds and artistic evidence, but due to its general nature, cannot be considered an exact replica of an archaeological piece.

AH6252 - Deepeeka Gladiator Trident
Retiarius’ Trident
1st - 4th century AD

Price: $75
Authenticity Rating: 8.5-9

This trident is patterned after artistic evidence of the weapon used by the Retiarius. While no verifiable archaeological examples currently exist, this is a reasonable facsimile of the artistic renderings known to us.

AH6231P - Deepeeka Gladiator Armguard (Padded)
Classic Gladiator Padded Arm Guard
1st - 4th century AD

Price: $75
Authenticity Rating: 9.5

This is the padded arm guard used by most gladiatorial types. It is sewn pleated and covers from shoulder to hand. In order to bring it to absolute historical accuracy, we would recommend adding leather thongs to encircle the arm from wrist to shoulder. Cloth strings have been attached at the top of this guard, but a more viable way to secure it to the body is needed and should be adapted by the buyer.

AH6234 - Deepeeka Gladiator Scaled Arm Guard (Iron) [left]
AH6234B - Deepeeka Gladiator Scaled Arm Guard (Brass) [right]
Gladiator scaled arm guard
2nd - 4th century AD

Price: $125 (AH6234)
Price: $170 (AH6234B)
Authenticity Rating: 9

From the mosaics of the third and fourth centuries, we see examples of gladiators wearing scaled metal arm guards, either of iron or of silvered brass. They may have been worn earlier, but there is scant evidence for anything other than the padded type used throughout Roman history, and the segmental type used by the Crupellari in the first century. This style is available in both brass and steel.

AH6014B Deepeeka Greaves (Brass)
Classic Gladiator Brass shin guards
1st - 4th century AD

Price: $135
Authenticity Rating: 9

These brass greaves are a simple rendering of those worn by Republican legionaries and by certain types of gladiators. Many gladiatorial greaves would have been embossed with decorations in repousse. Sold in pairs, although many gladiatorial types, such as the Myrmillo, and Republican legionaries only wore one short greave on their left (leading) leg.