Secutor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Secutor (pl. Secutores) was a class of gladiator in ancient Rome.
Thought to have originated around 50 AD, the Secutor ("chaser") was armed similarly to the Murmillo gladiator, usually with a gladius or a dagger. The Secutor was specially trained to fight a Retiarius, a type of gladiator that had a trident and a net.
The very distinctive helmet of the Secutor had only two small eye-holes, in order to prevent a Retiarius's trident from being thrust through the face, as well as a rounded top, so as not to get caught in a net. Because of the weight and lack of space in the helm, the secutor had to be quick, lest he fall to exhaustion or faint due to breath constrictions.
The secutor wore a loincloth, and a wide belt (much like the retiarius). On his right arm, he wore a manicae (a heavy linen wrapping tied with leather tongs), and on his left leg, he wore a ocrea (a greave made of boiled leather or metal). He also carried a scutum (a curved rectangular shield) to protect himself.
