Murmillo
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The murmillo (also sometimes spelled "mirmillo" or "myrmillo", pl. murmillones) was a type of
Equipment and armaments
The murmillo was armed with:
- Gladius: Roman sword with a length of 64–81 cm and weight of 1.2-1.6 kg with a handle made of bone.
- Scutum: Rectangular shield made of vertically connected wooden boards with a small bronze boss which protects the shield's handle.
- Balteus: Leather belt with metal decorations and supplements. Similar to current boxing belts.
- mailed.
- Cassis Crista: A large helmet with plume crest or horsehair, usually made of bronze, with an ornate 'grill' face visor. Usually based on the broad-rimmed Greek Boeotian helmet.
- Ocrea: Shin guard/protector made of bronze, iron or other metals.
- Fasciae: Thick soft padding on legs which are used to wear ocreas in order to prevent calluses and blisters.
Style
The murmillo usually fought the
The murmillo's fighting style was suited for men with strong arms and shoulders due to carrying the weight of the shield, sword and heavy helmet. As a result, murmillones were usually tall and always very muscular.[5] The murmillo depended on his strength and endurance to survive the battle against foes who were more suited to attacking. The tower shield gave him an edge in defence and the gladius enabled him to thrust and swing at his enemies when in close range. The murmillones were also trained to kick their enemies with the thick padding worn around their legs.
Examples of pairing murmillones with other gladiator types can be seen in frescoes and graffiti in Pompeii. In one well-preserved example, a murmillo named Marcus Atillus, who is credited with one match and one victory, is depicted standing over the defeated figure of Lucius Raecius Felix, a gladiator who is credited with 12 matches and 12 victories. His opponent is shown kneeling, disarmed and unhelmeted. The graffiti records that Felix survived the fight and was granted his freedom (manumission).[3]: 96–100
See also
References
- ISBN 0-415-00005-X
- ^ Perkins, Coren, Sue, Giles. "Supersizers Eat". dailymotion. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ ISBN 978-1-4051-1568-1.
- ^ "Time Team". Channel 4. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
- ^ "Gladiators: Back from were the Dead". DailyMotion. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
External links
- James Grout: Murmillo, part of the Encyclopædia Romana
- Fresco of a murmillo and Thracian fighting, found in Pompei in 2019