06-26-2006, 06:48 AM
Salvete John and Svenja,
thank You both for posting these pictures from Hierapolis. According to Marcus Junkelmann (our bible in Gladiatorial equipment :wink: ) the opponent of the obvious Scissor could be only another Scissor, if my impression is right that both men are wearing a pair of short greaves. Regrettably the left man's left arm (where he would wear his Scissor's knife) is not visible on the relief.
After Junkelmann it was the Scissor who was the only gladiator that wore two of the short greaves with the u-cut at the bottom. After his theories firstly the Murmillo (with one short greave) was opposed to the Retiarius. Then the Secutor was invented with the same armor as the Murmillo but with another helmet (the typical Secutor's helmet).
Then the Scissor was invented as a sub-type of the Secutor, he received the typical Scissor's knife instead of the large rectangular scutum of the Murmillo and the Secutor. Both needed only one short greave on their left leg that was stepped forward together with the scutum, so that the whole front party was covered. But the Scissor had abandoned the scutum for the Scissor's knife and received a body protection (scale, mail, musculata (?) ). And to protect his uncovered right leg he received also a second short greave.
Remember, the other gladiators with small shields, the Hoplomachus and the Thraex also had a pair of greaves, but the very large version that covered even parts of the shanks above the knee.
But the Scissor was the only Gladiator with two short greaves - compare with all known pictures, even the new of this topic and of the other show this.
The problem is that the Scissor (being a sub-type of the Secutor) was only intended to fight against the Retiarius. But as Junkelmann also wrote in his book, the Romans made experiments at the beginning when they set the 'rules' for the Gladiatorial pairs. And may-be the picture could show such an exception of the rule. On the other hand who wants to say that the duel Scissor against Scissor was not another regular fight.
Much speculation, I know, but not without probability. Both men's visible equipment seems to be identical.
Greets - Uwe
Quote: It's too unclear to me what type of gladiator the opponent to the scissor might be
thank You both for posting these pictures from Hierapolis. According to Marcus Junkelmann (our bible in Gladiatorial equipment :wink: ) the opponent of the obvious Scissor could be only another Scissor, if my impression is right that both men are wearing a pair of short greaves. Regrettably the left man's left arm (where he would wear his Scissor's knife) is not visible on the relief.
After Junkelmann it was the Scissor who was the only gladiator that wore two of the short greaves with the u-cut at the bottom. After his theories firstly the Murmillo (with one short greave) was opposed to the Retiarius. Then the Secutor was invented with the same armor as the Murmillo but with another helmet (the typical Secutor's helmet).
Then the Scissor was invented as a sub-type of the Secutor, he received the typical Scissor's knife instead of the large rectangular scutum of the Murmillo and the Secutor. Both needed only one short greave on their left leg that was stepped forward together with the scutum, so that the whole front party was covered. But the Scissor had abandoned the scutum for the Scissor's knife and received a body protection (scale, mail, musculata (?) ). And to protect his uncovered right leg he received also a second short greave.
Remember, the other gladiators with small shields, the Hoplomachus and the Thraex also had a pair of greaves, but the very large version that covered even parts of the shanks above the knee.
But the Scissor was the only Gladiator with two short greaves - compare with all known pictures, even the new of this topic and of the other show this.
The problem is that the Scissor (being a sub-type of the Secutor) was only intended to fight against the Retiarius. But as Junkelmann also wrote in his book, the Romans made experiments at the beginning when they set the 'rules' for the Gladiatorial pairs. And may-be the picture could show such an exception of the rule. On the other hand who wants to say that the duel Scissor against Scissor was not another regular fight.
Much speculation, I know, but not without probability. Both men's visible equipment seems to be identical.
Greets - Uwe
Greets - Uwe
