| Different gladiators specialized in different | | | | gladiator to have effective protection for the |
| weapons and tactics and have different armours. | | | | upper body - a rectangular breastplate. Sectur had |
| According to the weapons they use, there were | | | | a leather covering on his left arm and a metal |
| several types (classes)of gladiators. The Samnites | | | | covering on his right leg and fought with a |
| fought with a short sword, a rectangular shield, a | | | | rectangular shield and a short sword. Rudiarius |
| sallet, an arm prorector on the right arm and a | | | | was a gladiator who had won his freedom |
| greave on the left leg. The Secutores (chasers) | | | | (received his wooden sword or rudis) but chooses |
| and the Murmillones were also using rectangular | | | | to remain a gladiator. Some of Rudiarii became |
| shields, sallets and short swords; they differ | | | | trainers, helpers, referees, fighters etc. They |
| mainly in the shape of the helmet (Murmillones, for | | | | were very popular with the public as they were |
| example, have high crest of the helmet with the | | | | experienced fabulous fighters and could be relied |
| shape of a fish). Samnites, Secutors and | | | | on to provide a good show. Scissores |
| Murmillones never fought with each other. Their | | | | (carvers)used special short swords called |
| opponents were usually the Retiarii who fought | | | | scissores. The swords had two blades and looked |
| with weighted nets, tridents and daggers and | | | | like a pair of open scissors but without hinge. Noxi: |
| Tertiarii (Substitutes). | | | | Criminals who fought each other, often one was |
| The first role of the Tertiarius was as a | | | | blindfolded and armed against an unarmed |
| substitute, taking the place of gladiators who had | | | | opponent. There were also gladiators on horses |
| been billed to fight but were unable to do so. The | | | | like Andabatae (ascensores) who wore visored |
| second role of the Tertiarius was to participate in | | | | helmets without eye holes. They charged blindly |
| a fight requiring three gladiators. The first two | | | | at one another on horseback. They had full body |
| gladiators would fight until one was defeated and | | | | armour and their only weakness were their joints. |
| the winner would then have to fight with the third | | | | Their weapons were round shields and spears. |
| man who was called Tertiarius. The Tertiarii usually | | | | Equites (horsemen) fought on horseback with a |
| fight with a round shields and curved swords. | | | | spear and gladius (short sword). They were called |
| Thracians were equipped with a broad-rimmed | | | | horsemen probably because they began the fight |
| helmet, small round shields (parma) and Thracian | | | | or entered the arena on horsebacks. However, |
| curved swords called sicca. They usually fought | | | | they finished their fight on foot. Generally, the |
| Murmillones or Hoplomachi. The Hoplomachi | | | | Eques only fought gladiators of his own type. |
| (heavily armed) were fully armored and based on | | | | They fought with lances. Saggitarii were mounted |
| Greek hoplites. They wore helmets with stylized | | | | bowmen armed with bows and arrows. |
| griffins on the crest, leg wrappings and | | | | Paegniarius Used a whip, club and a shield fixed |
| shin-guards. They fight with Hoplite spears and | | | | with straps to the left arm. Praegenarii used |
| small round shields. They were paired against | | | | wooden swords (Rudis) and wore wrappings |
| Murmillones or Thracians. Dimachaeri (bearing two | | | | around their bodies. As they fought, they were |
| knives). These gladiators used two-swords, one in | | | | accompanied by light hearted music using cymbals, |
| each hand. Gauls (Gali) - fought with lances, | | | | trumpets, and a water organ (hydraulis). Essedari |
| helmets and Gallic shields. Velites had spears with | | | | (war-charriot fighters) fought on foot and |
| a thong attached so they could retrieve them | | | | probably used the chariot to make a spectacular |
| after a throw. | | | | entrance to the arena. There was also a special |
| Laquerii (lasso fighters) Laqueatores used ropes | | | | group of gladiators who fought with animals. |
| and nooses. Provocatores (challengers)- they | | | | Bestiarii (beast fighters) were usually armed with |
| fought with helmets without crests, tall, curved | | | | spears or knives. They were condemned to fight |
| rectangular shields and swords with straight | | | | beasts with a high probability of death. Venatores |
| blades. They were only paired against other | | | | were specialized in wild animal hunts. Technically, |
| Provocatores. The provocator was the only | | | | they were not exactly gladiators. |