uncommon weapons form (sword and trident)

[john roberts]

The gladiatorial fresco from Ashik's crypt in Panticapaeum, 1st century date, shows a man carrying an oddly large and elaborate trident that seems to have a spearhead at its base, but he carries no other weapon and I know of no other depiction of this sort of trident. The retiarius is frequently shown using sword and trident together, without his net, and in some very early depictions the sword seems to be legionary size. Gladiators also seem to have occasionally picked up fallen weapons and fought with them. A single grafitto in Pompeii shows a helmeted man bearing a scutum fighting with a trident. I would very much like to see the picture you speak of.
Welcome to the forum, by the way.