Eques (gladiator)

Reconstruction during an event in Carnuntum

The eques ( Latin for rider ) was a mounted, lightly armed Roman gladiator . The identification of the eques has caused great difficulties because almost all of the illustrations show him dismounted at the decisive phase of the fight.

For other gladiators see: Gladiator types .

Equipment and armament

The eques was lightly armed. He carried a lance and a sword as weapons. His armor was limited to an Attic-Boeotian helmet, armguard on the sword arm ( manica ) and a medium-sized round shield ( parma ) . He was dressed in a tunic .

opponent

The eques always fought other equites , first on horseback with a lance, then dismounted with a sword.

literature

• Marcus Junkelmann : Playing with death - This is how Rome's gladiators fought . Zabern, Mainz 2000, ISBN 3-8053-2563-0 ( Antike Welt , special issue; Zabern's illustrated books on archeology ).