Spectacle
Legionnaire body armor. This is a Lorica Segmentata, a self
explanatory name. Mass produced, light, and very effective, it is the
opposite of gladiatorial armor. Gladiatorial armor, the other need in
Roman culture, was heavy, showy, and designed to be worn for just a few
minutes. Legionaire armor was designed to protect vital areas, to be
light and inconspicuous, and might be worn for weeks on end. Armor for
the games was made to keep arms and head safe, yet leave the torso open
for a death blow. It was also gilded, heavy and beautiful.
A perfect example of the opposition of gladiatorial defense vs.
military. No chest protection, damn near no vision, eyecatching
decoration, weight and bulk no problem at all! The helmet shown here
is that of a Thracian, or possibly a secutor (chaser), they are the same
thing. Of course there were no hard and fast rules on the sand as
novelty was the common denominator of impressing the hoi polloi! Notice
the torso is bare and open to a death blow. Gladiators were known as
barley men, as they were fed fattening foods under the belief that fat
helped stave off a lethal wound. As Roman doctors were probably the
ancient world's experts on edged weapon wounds, they may have been on to
something here. However, as each pound of fat is another mile of blood
vessels, I sorta doubt that this had merit. A tremendously obese
fighter might, might, have a better chance of surviving a death wound,
but this would mean a loss of speed and mobility so I doubt it. The
picture above gives one an idea why women would throw their underwear
into the arena, as this is just about the hottest get up a fit man could
wear.
Speaking of which, here is a Retiarius panoply. The sex objects of the Arena, this is pretty much what they wore. Selected for their looks, they held a slight advantage due to their speed and mobility.
The lead weighted net could be used as a flail, and of course the
trident was a hell of a weapon. Other than that they fought in their underwear with
only a dagger as a secondary weapon.
Kirk Douglas, Spartacus, and Woody Strode, Draba. Both are
dressed as Retiarii, but Kirk is holding a small shield more likely to
be carried by the more heavily armored Thracian, who carried a buckler
and a curved sword, and would have a helmet. My money is on Woody, who
is one of the finest examples of what a badass should look like in
cinema history. Of course if you have seen the movie Woody does defeat
Kirk, but ends up getting stabbed by Laurence Olivier in a pointless and
unlikely self immolation.
Difficult angle.
In my day, being condemned to possible death was known as - 'Eight for the State, or Four for the Corps'.
Jean Leon Gerome, 'Pollice Verso', (with turned thumb). It is thought that the death signal was the thumb jabbed toward the abdomen, although fashions and styles change over 700 years. Remember the man giving the games had to pay for dead fighters.
In an edged weapon fight, speed matters far more than strength. When
fighting to the death is legalized, and it will be, all other sports
will be only seen in grade schools, and the list of state and federal
capital crimes will become very lengthy indeed.
Make very sure you get those library books back on time.
Make very sure you get those library books back on time.
Thanks! I always learn a lot from your posts!
ReplyDeleteIf you call this learning... I am more like the National Enquirer of history!
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