[Top 15] Deadly Weapons Used By Gladiators

Updated:

05 Mar 2023

Gladiators are an incredibly popular concept, originating back from the Roman Empire. These warriors were often prisoners, criminals, and slaves. To earn their freedom, fame, and money, these gladiators would have to take on all sorts of opponents and be properly equipped for each one. Gladiators would fight hand-to-hand, heavily armored or dressed only in rags, or even savage animals. Here are a few of their most favored weapons, and how these weapons would allow the gladiator to survive.

1) Gladius

Gladiator Maximus Wielding a Gladius

The most well-known weapon for any gladiator would be the short swords called gladius. These swords were wide at the hilt, and made for use in close combat. It was an incredibly popular weapon thanks to its simplicity and versatility. Gladiators were able to keep them sheathed as a backup weapon, wield them along with shields, or even have a sword in each hand.

2) Weighted Net

Retiarius Swinging his Net

Weighted nets may not seem like a classic gladiator weapon, but they were another commonly-used weapon. They were paired with tridents, both of which were regularly-used tools by fishermen. Retiarius were gladiators who wielded these weapons. The retiarius would hurl their net at the enemy, hoping to entangle them enough to land a critical strike.

3) Trident

The trident was the other favored tool of retiarius gladiators. In an ideal fight, the retiarius would entangle their foe with their net, and then start stabbing with their trident. Using their trident, retiarius would tend to aim towards the head. In order to counter these attacks, the opponents of retiarius would wear helmets that completely covered the face except for two small eye holes. This would prevent them from being blinded.

4) Pilum Spear

The Throwing Spear

There was a good variety of spears used by gladiators in the arena. The pilum, and a few similar spears, were notably used for throwing. Typically, gladiators would be equipped with one of these longer, heavy spears, while also carrying smaller weapons. They would begin the match by hurling the pilum at their opponent. The spears were designed to pierce shields and injure a foe. If that attack was unsuccessful, the gladiator would then draw his short sword and small shield for use in close combat.

5) Hasta Spear

Contrary to pilums, hasta spears were designed for jabbing. Similar to the tridents of a retiarius, hasta spears were used to keep some distance between opponents while thrusting at exposed areas. However, users of this spear would not usually use a net, and instead would likely have a shield for defense.

6) Shields

Gladiators like Pullo Use Shields Effectively

Shields were an incredibly important tool for every gladiator. There were typically two types of shields used. There were smaller shields, which were more offensively built. Gladiators would use them to bash their foes. On the other hand, larger, legion-esque shields were used by heavily armored gladiators, and were designed for maximum defensive capabilities.

7) Spatha

Use of a Spatha on Horseback

Spatha were another form of swords used by gladiators, but were not as popular as the gladius. Spatha were long broadswords. Their length made them less effective in close combat, but made them excellent for cavalry. While horse-riding gladiators were rarer, they did exist and favored spatha or spears.

8) Siccae

Testing of the Sicca

Siccae were another short sword, but with more circumstantial use than the average gladius. Siccae were rather short blades, notable for being curved. One type of gladiator, the dimachaerus, would wield a sicca in each hand. Other gladiators, like the Thraex, would have a sicca in one hand and a shield in the other. Siccae were specifically used to wound the opponent’s unarmored back.

9) Pugio

After Losing his Sword, Commodus Draws his Siccae

Pugio were pear-shaped daggers. The retiarius were known to carry these, but they were common among many gladiators. Due to their small size, they were easy to carry in addition to other weapons and armor. However, this also meant they weren’t incredibly effective in a fight, and were often thought of as a last resort.

10) Gladius Graecus

Testing the Greek sword

The gladius graecus is yet another short sword, but this one is known for its unique shape and origin. These blades were leaf-shaped, making them rounder than the average gladius. This is because the design for this sword is Greek in origin, or graecus. These blades were not commonly used, but were favored by the hoplomachus gladiators. These gladiators were made to look like the hoplites, Greek warriors, so they would use Greek armor and weapons.

11) Cestus

Forging and testing a cestus

The cestus is the name of both the weapon and the gladiator who wields it. The tool itself is similar to modern brass knuckles. They were thick leather studded with spikes, to be worn around the gladiator’s fists. The cestus gladiator would fight other cestus gladiators, neither warrior wearing any armor. These battles resembled boxing matches or fist-fighting.

12) Laquearius

A Retiarius using his Net Like a Lasso

The laquearius were Roman lassos. They were wielded by a class of gladiator similar to the net-wielding retiarius, meaning the gladiator would attempt to tangle their opponent with the lasso and stab them with a trident. These lassos may also have been used by a comedic form of gladiator. These gladiators were meant to mimic a typical fight with over-the-top actions. They would not wear helmets or heavy armor, typically would not use deadly weaponry, and were meant more for audience entertainment.

13) Bow & Arrows

Chariot Mounted Archers Shoot Down Gladiators on Foot

Archery was not common in gladiator fights, due to the imbalance it would create during matches. But sometimes, a skilled archer would go into battle on horseback with a bow and quiver. The gladiators they would face were on foot, making the match more of a demonstration of the archer’s skill. To help balance these matches, the archer may face multiple opponents at once.

14) Scissor

A Scissor Gladiator Fighting a Retiarius

Not a lot is known about scissor gladiators, but they certainly did exist. They were gladiators who would wield a semicircular blade in each hand, positioning them like a pair of scissors. These scissors would not actually have a hinge, like modern scissors do. These blades were also thought to have included a metal pipe-like structure that would cover the hands and forearms of the gladiator who wielded them. This would allow for more skilled combat, letting the gladiator block strikes with the armor while attacking at the same time.

15) Rudiarius

A Retired Gladiator Discusses the Importance of the Rudiarius

The rudiarius could be considered the final weapon for a successful gladiator. Many gladiators were slaves or prisoners, fighting for their own lives and freedom. When gladiators had won their freedom, they were given a wooden sword. This rudiarius was a symbol of the gladiators’ freedom, and allowed them to begin a new chapter in their careers. Some would become trainers or referees, and some would even be paid for returning for one more match. The crowd learned to love the sight of a rudiarius, as it signified that its owner was a warrior of skill and experience.