Hoplomachus
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A hoplomachus was a type of gladiator in ancient Rome, armed to resemble a Greek hoplite. The hoplomachus would wear a bronze helmet, a manica on his right arm, loincloth, heavy padding on his legs, a
Hoplomachus, depicted on a Roman glass found in the Begram treasure.
A hoplomachus (left) fights a thraex (right) (Terracotta, British Museum).
Thraex
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The Thraex, or Thracian, was a type of Roman gladiator armed in Thracian style. His equipment included a parmula, a small shield that might be rectangular, square or circular; and a sica, a short swor
Hoplomachus
…They wore no shoes so the sand would chafe their feet, presenting them a greater challenge. His usual opponent was the murmillo, but he might fight the thraex in exceptional cases. Justus Lipsius conjectured that it was one of two designations of Samnite, and that Samnites were called hoplomachi when battling…
A Thraex (left) fighting a murmillo, mosaic from Bad Kreuznach, Germany
Thraex sculpted from ivory as a knife handle (2nd century AD)