Hoplomachi

History, Facts and Information about the Hoplomachi
Gladiators were divided into different classes according to their weapons and fighting styles. There were strict rules and protocol surrounding the fights of gladiators.

A gladiatorial fight would usually involve two gladiators but similar types of gladiators such as the Hoplomachi, would not normally fight each other. The first Roman Gladiators were prisoners of war and used the weapons and equipment characteristic of their people. The early enemies of Rome included the Samnites, the Thracians and the Gauls (Gallus) and gladiators were named according to their ethnic roots.

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History, Facts and information about Hoplomachi *** The gladiators who fought in Ancient Rome *** The brutal society and the gladiatorial combats of the Romans *** Fighting style of this type of gladiator, opponent, weapons, armor and clothing *** Hoplomachi *** The Role of this type of gladiator *** Ancient history, facts and interesting information about these famous gladiators who fought in the Roman Colosseum and other arenas for the entertainment of the Romans

Hoplomachi

This changed over the years and the names of the different types of gladiators reflected their combat techniques such as Secutores (chasers), Bestiarii (beast fighters) and Retiarius (net fighters). Gladiators were always clothed and armed to resemble barbarians with unusual and exotic weapons and their fights depicted famous victories over barbarians and the power of the Roman Empire. 

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Definition of a Hoplomachi - Weapons, Armor, Fighting Styles and Opponents
What type of gladiator was a Hoplomachi? What weapons and armor did they use? What was their style of combat? And what type of gladiator was matched as their opponent?

 - Definition: The word ‘hoplomachus’ derives from the Greek words meaning ‘heavily armed’. The Hoplomachi gladiator originated from the Hellenic warriors called the ‘hoplites’. Well built gladiators, heavily armored and therefore slow

 - During the period of the Roman Republic "heavy" fighters were termed Samnites and in the Empire Period they became known as Hoplomachus

 - Opponent: This type of gladiator fought with similarly heavily armored gladiators. The Hoplomachi was limited in his speed because of the weight of his heavy armor so combats against lightly armored and speedy opponent gladiators would have been interesting to the Romans. Often matched against the murmillo

 - Weapons: This type of gladiator fought with a sword (the gladius). The Gladius was the 27 inch short straight sword, broad towards the handle, after which the gladiator was named. The gladius was designed to thrust and parry rather than to cut and slice. The Gladius Graecus was a leaf-shaped short sword originally used by the Greek hoplites and also used by Hoplomachus gladiators. A dagger called a pugio or a semispathae or half-swords might also be one of this gladiator's weapons. The Hoplomachi also carried a lance (hasta). The hasta was not thrown, it was used for thrusting and approximately six feet in length.

 - The gladiators who used the gladius sword were those who were armed with body-shields such as the secutor, myrmillo, hoplomachus and the dimacheris.

 - Body Armor and helmet worn by this type of gladiator: Protected by a Galea visored helmet with a massive crest ridge. He wore an Ocrea, or metal greave, on the lower left leg. His right arm and wrist was protected by a manica of tied linen or leather

 - Shield: Hoplomachi carried a Parmula which was was a small, light bronze shield, usually round but occasionally square. They were also believed to have used the scutum, a rectangular, semi-cylindrical body shield

 - Clothing worn: Canvas Loin Cloth (subligaculum) worn in a variety of colors, sandals or barefoot

Hoplomachi - Matched Pairs
Combats between similarly armored gladiators would demonstrate superior skills when gladiators were fighting against equally armed opponents. However, contrasting types of fighters were also carefully selected in order to achieve a reasonably fair pairing. Matched pairs of gladiators of would ensure that one fighter was hampered by heavy armor whilst the other was lightly armed. One gladiator might have freedom of movement but with little to nothing to protect him, whereas the other gladiator might be more heavily armed and protected but restricted in his movements by his equipment. There were therefore many different types of gladiator, including the Hoplomachi, who specialised in using specific weapons, armor and shields.

Hoplomachi
The content of this Hoplomachi category on the different types of gladiator who fought to the death in the gladiatorial combats staged in Ancient Rome provides free educational details, facts and information for reference and research for schools, colleges and homework. Refer to the Colosseum Sitemap for a comprehensive search on interesting different categories containing the history, facts and information about Ancient Rome. Interesting facts and information on this type of gladiator: their weapons, their armor and their style of combat.

Facts and information about Hoplomachi *** The Hoplomachi gladiator of Ancient Rome *** Matched Pairs in the arena *** Definition of the Hoplomachi (hoplomachus) *** Hoplomachi *** Weapons and Armor *** Fighting Styles used in gladiatorial combat *** Opponents of the Hoplomachi *** Facts and interesting information about the hoplomachus

Hoplomachi

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Hoplomachi