09-06-2013, 08:20 PM
This from Michael Grant's "Gladiators" (1967)
"Quintilian compares the speeches of counsel with the fencing of gladiators: 'the second stroke becomes the third, if the first be made to make the opponent thrust, or becomes the fourth, if there be a double feint, so that there are two bouts of parrying and riposte.' "
I have no idea of the accuracy of the translation (especially the 18th century fencing terms) but it clearly implies that there was a recognized system of swordplay used in the amphitheater. This, of course, is duelling, not battle. Single combat and melee are two very different things.
"Quintilian compares the speeches of counsel with the fencing of gladiators: 'the second stroke becomes the third, if the first be made to make the opponent thrust, or becomes the fourth, if there be a double feint, so that there are two bouts of parrying and riposte.' "
I have no idea of the accuracy of the translation (especially the 18th century fencing terms) but it clearly implies that there was a recognized system of swordplay used in the amphitheater. This, of course, is duelling, not battle. Single combat and melee are two very different things.
Pecunia non olet
