08-08-2010, 09:55 AM
You are completely right Garrelt.
The Trident staffs I have used so far are about 2,8-3cm in diameter and the dagger and word hilts of the Pompeji finds have a diameter of 2,5-2,8.
I dont have particularly big hands but I can comfartably grip both and change form a two handed to one handed grip with ease.
It is easier if you dont grip the leather thong of the padded "glove" at the end of the manica as some depictions show.
One trick that also helps with the two handed grip is locking the "crossbar" of the dagger with the staff of the trident, like I show in these posed shots that actually show the dagger held like in many depictions of Retiarii:
![[Image: 3694256529_e380512861_z.jpg?zz=1]](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2590/3694256529_e380512861_z.jpg?zz=1)
![[Image: 4702318401_8750963c98_z.jpg]](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4004/4702318401_8750963c98_z.jpg)
Here you can find a corresponding depiction:
[url:bqp85quz]http://www.flickr.com/photos/40060535@N05/galleries/72157623093765400/#photo_2976780310[/url]
And in this sparring video you see how difficult its is for a right handed opponent to close with me without exposing his unshielded side to a quick stab of the dagger:
[url:bqp85quz]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49hczv3V-uM[/url]
Garrelt is refering to this relief from Rome:
[url:bqp85quz]http://www.flickr.com/photos/40060535@N05/galleries/72157623093765400/#photo_294384955[/url]
Here the Murmillo on the right is shown having his Gladius hanging down by a thong.
As a Retiarius would have to quickly change the dagger to his right hand in the event of loosing the Trident, just like a Hoplomachus would have to, once he has dropped his Hasta, I dont think that it would make sense for these types to secure the weapon this way.
Still the Essedarius is an exception as he would have to hold a javelin behind his curved oval scutum together with a short Gladiator sword.
The suctum has a horizontal grip and a horizontal curve, so both the javelin and sword would have to be held verticaly together, like the pilum shaft of a legionary.
I can easily fix one javelin with my thump against the shield backing, like legionarys do with their second pilum, but I could not hold a sword together with that.
Holding sword and javelin together in the right hand would of course make it impossible to actually throw the javelin without also letting go of the sword.
The Trident staffs I have used so far are about 2,8-3cm in diameter and the dagger and word hilts of the Pompeji finds have a diameter of 2,5-2,8.
I dont have particularly big hands but I can comfartably grip both and change form a two handed to one handed grip with ease.
It is easier if you dont grip the leather thong of the padded "glove" at the end of the manica as some depictions show.
One trick that also helps with the two handed grip is locking the "crossbar" of the dagger with the staff of the trident, like I show in these posed shots that actually show the dagger held like in many depictions of Retiarii:
Here you can find a corresponding depiction:
[url:bqp85quz]http://www.flickr.com/photos/40060535@N05/galleries/72157623093765400/#photo_2976780310[/url]
And in this sparring video you see how difficult its is for a right handed opponent to close with me without exposing his unshielded side to a quick stab of the dagger:
[url:bqp85quz]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49hczv3V-uM[/url]
Garrelt is refering to this relief from Rome:
[url:bqp85quz]http://www.flickr.com/photos/40060535@N05/galleries/72157623093765400/#photo_294384955[/url]
Here the Murmillo on the right is shown having his Gladius hanging down by a thong.
As a Retiarius would have to quickly change the dagger to his right hand in the event of loosing the Trident, just like a Hoplomachus would have to, once he has dropped his Hasta, I dont think that it would make sense for these types to secure the weapon this way.
Still the Essedarius is an exception as he would have to hold a javelin behind his curved oval scutum together with a short Gladiator sword.
The suctum has a horizontal grip and a horizontal curve, so both the javelin and sword would have to be held verticaly together, like the pilum shaft of a legionary.
I can easily fix one javelin with my thump against the shield backing, like legionarys do with their second pilum, but I could not hold a sword together with that.
Holding sword and javelin together in the right hand would of course make it impossible to actually throw the javelin without also letting go of the sword.
Olaf Küppers - Histotainment, Event und Promotion - Germany
