Ambrosian Iliad- Late Roman soldier illustration

[Carlton Bach]

It is there in the middle of the battle scene, surrounded by the circular shields...a very curious image.
I thougth that there was no gladiatorial games in the Fifth century...

Very curious indeed. the bared shoulder would indicate a gladiator rather than a legionary.. The groups in an odd lot anyway, ranging from hellenistic to late Roman..

It looks more like the 'exomis' tunica to me. By the fifth century, the bare shoulder look and the rectangular scutum both would have become traditional imagery, so their inclusion into art isn't that surprising. If you look at some of the other gear, there also seem to be a fair share of hoplite aspides around.