Hoplomachus

This article deals with a weapons trainer and tactics teacher in ancient Greece, for a Roman gladiator see Hoplomachus

The Hoplomachos ( Greek  ὁπλομάχος "fighting with heavy weapons") was a traveling martial arts teacher in classical Greece in the 5th and 4th centuries BC. He taught military weaponry and tactics for a fee.

Further development

In the Hellenistic period, it developed Hoplomachie . This was a fencing sport with lance and sword, which was mainly practiced by young people at high schools . It was part of paramilitary training for young people and was part of public sports competitions. The Romans developed a gladiator from this , which they also called Hoplomachus .

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 ).