08-07-2014, 07:08 PM
Quote:The right leg forward stance put that leg at hazard since it wasn't as protected by the shield as the left was. This is graphically exhibited on the Zliten gladiatorial mosaic. In one pair, a murmillo has incautiously advanced his right leg in front of his left in making a thrust. His Thraex opponent has caught the thrust on his parma and deflected it upward while simultaneously cutting the murmillo on the side or rear of the advanced thigh. The sica can clearly be seen slicing the leg from which blood gushes copiously. Thraeces wore armor on both legs and ran less risk when performing a right leg forward maneuver.
In that scenario, yes. But it must be noted that the murmillo wasn't using a four foot tall shield and his opponent was armed with a curved blade designed to be able to reach around a shield edge. The murmillo could have blocked the thraex's attack if he simply kept him shield in front of his right leg. Overall, I don't think that mosiac indicates the right leg forward stance is infeasible, it just shows one gladiator fighting another who gives a good blow. No fighting move is without a counter.
