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Essays

Retiarius

Author: Graham Ashford

Of all the main gladiator types the retiarius seems to be the most known of. This is probably due to the familiar looking weapons and apparent lack of complication in his equipment. The retiarius stands unique among the gladiators as the only one to have not worn a helmet or much body armour save a manica and galerus.

The retiarius meaning 'net man' seems to have been based upon some form of fisherman, a form of work instantly recognisable to most people in the Roman Empire as we consider a great proportion of its population lived near or in habitations near to water. Compared to many of the other gladiators the retiarius was very lightly armoured and armed. The Trident, Net, Manica, Belt, Dagger and Galerus making his entire defence. However the manica and galerus are shown in a great many shapes and sizes and occasionally, more frequently after the 2nd Century AD, the manica seems to have been extended across the leading edge o of the chest and abdomen. With weapons unique to his type they would have been well prepared to hold his enemies at a distance and continually worry them with the tridents end.

A gravestone of a retiarius held in the Lieden museum.

A gravestone of a retiarius held in the Lieden museum.

This picture of a grave stone held in the Lieden museum, we can see three of the main items used by the retiarius, with an extended manica (in the yellow circle) across his chest and abdomen. Also the dagger (in green) and the trident head (in red) are clearly visible. Notice that the trident head is tiny than typically depicted in most modern media.

Some depictions of the retiarius show him armed with a dagger in his belt or hand. Often a victorious retiarius is illustrated finishing the fallen gladiator with this weapon. It is received learning that in the case of a victory the retiarius would be able to use the dagger to finish his vanquished enemy with a cleaner and easier end than could be obtained through the trident or spear. Others also believe that the dagger could be used as a secondary weapon if the trident was lost or broken in the contest, something which illustrations show a lot. Whether or not the short dagger would have been much protection against a fully armed scutarii complete with gladius is something I doubt, however it is certainly more substantial than fists and good luck would provide.

A defeated retiarius kneels before a victorious secutor, interestingly he holds a knife/dagger in his hands even though he is on his knees, the traditional signal of the extended finger for defeat cannot be seen, perhaps he is going to fight to the death. In the background the lanista looks on and does not appear to be interfering.

A defeated retiarius kneels before a victorious secutor, interestingly he holds a knife/dagger in his hands even though he is on his knees, the traditional signal of the extended finger for defeat cannot be seen, perhaps he is going to fight to the death. In the background the lanista looks on and does not appear to be interfering.

It would have been his mobility that would have been the chief ally of the retiarius, something which would (up to a point) serve him well the longer he could draw out the combat. Against a fresh heavily armed gladiator he would have stood little chance toe to toe, but against a weary heavily armed gladiator his chances would constantly improve. It is with this in mind that I believe this gladiator would have fought, holding his enemy at bay with his considerably longer weaponry until he felt able to fully utilise his remaining speed. The net used by the retiarius would have added in these efforts. Held by many to simply be a weapon to ensnare or trip his opponent however, an extended net on the floor draped between the two gladiators presents a sizable obstacle to the scutarii holding him well out of range of his weapons but within striking distance of the retiarius' trident.

The general opponent of the retiarius would have been a scutarii of some form or other, there is little consistency in the resources offered us among the historians, some claim the main opposition for the retiarius came from the murmillo others claim that it was a secutor and yet others still explain that it was both cases with the murmillo developed over time into the specialised secutor. The confusion does not end there other evidence clearly show the retiarius fighting samnites. As already stated it would seem almost impossible to say who the main opponent of the retiarius would have been other than it was some form of scutarii (large shield fighter).

Here again we see a defeated retiarius against a secutor. Much is placed into the importance of records such as this for our evidence, here though the defeated signal of the retiarius appears to be doing little to halt the coming death blow of the secutor. As in many images of the retiarius his trident lies, lost upon the ground beneath the on rushing secutor.

Here again we see a defeated retiarius against a secutor. Much is placed into the importance of records such as this for our evidence, here though the defeated signal of the retiarius appears to be doing little to halt the coming death blow of the secutor. As in many images of the retiarius his trident lies, lost upon the ground beneath the on rushing secutor.

It is generally held that the retiarius held lowest status of the gladiators hierarchy. Presumably his lack of armour and heavy weaponry made him unpopular in the sight of the people, or rather less exciting. There main form of defence we are told was to turn and run away from the opponent forcing them to always close the gap. We are lead to believe this was one gladiator were retreat in the face of the enemy was tolerated by the crowds to a some lesser degree. Constantly holding the enemy at bay until some fatal error would have been exploited.

This low status has made many think that the retiarius was a poor position to be placed in as a gladiator, certainly if the gap between the opponents is breached then the retiarius has a serious situation to recover from if he is to win the bout. However, competent use of the net and trident to force this gap to exist make the retiarius a strong gladiator type against the armed scutarii. Interestingly, there is no evidence (I know of) pairing a retiarius against a Hoplomachi, presumably the Hoplomachi's spear would have ruined the one of the main advantages the retiarius held over his opponents?

In this action picture found in an oil lamp a secutor and retiarius are coming to serious blows, the distance between the two has been covered in a rush from the secutor (or some clumsy work from the retiarius) which is about to possibly spell doom for the retiarius by an overhand thrust from the secutor. A rare example of clashing gladiators.

In this action picture found in an oil lamp a secutor and retiarius are coming to serious blows, the distance between the two has been covered in a rush from the secutor (or some clumsy work from the retiarius) which is about to possibly spell doom for the retiarius by an overhand thrust from the secutor. A rare example of clashing gladiators.

In conclusion the retiarius presents a break from the norm in the arena, a very lightly armed man relying heavily upon speed, agility and distance as his main forms of defence and attack in a world used to bloody, swift and very close combat. He portrayed for the Roman people a slight askew view of combat, a possible parody on man verses nature. Believed to be the least popular of the gladiators yet inscriptions and ancient sources seem to teach us the most about him, most certainly an experienced retiarius would have been a lethal opponent to face in the arena.