The gladiators were named after the arms they used. The most remarkable were the retiarii and the secutores. The retiarius wore a short tunic, with his head bare: he held in his left hand a trident, or three-pointed spear; and in his right a net, with which he endeavoured to entangle his adversary, that with his trident he might despatch him. The secutor, or follower, was armed with a helmet, a shield, and a sword, and was matched with the retiarius. If the latter missed his aim in throwing the net, he attempted by flight to gain time for a second cast; while the secutor pursued, to prevent his design by despatching him.
CLASSICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL DICTIONARY BY P. AUSTIN NUTTALL, LL.D.Copied