12-05-2005, 01:39 PM
The little report is quite interesting. The shields missing is something which has always puzzled me, also it is very rare, if ever, that you see a victorious gladiator raising his sword in victory, it is nearly always his shield.
I think that what is being recognised here is an ancient importance associated to the with the shield which perhaps we miss too easily these days.
The Greeks placed tremendous importance upon the shield as a soldier and individual, I would suggest that the Romans may well have done as well.
Certainly in our own group we are finding that the shield is increasingly more important with the gladius almost being relegated to a secondary weapon status. The gladius is often employed to get the opponent to open themselves up, from worry of a cut until it can be finally employed in the finishing blow. However it is important to state that this 'finishing blow' is not for the gladiators death but rather the last blow of the fight. At least we are starting to think this is how it was done.
I think that what is being recognised here is an ancient importance associated to the with the shield which perhaps we miss too easily these days.
The Greeks placed tremendous importance upon the shield as a soldier and individual, I would suggest that the Romans may well have done as well.
Certainly in our own group we are finding that the shield is increasingly more important with the gladius almost being relegated to a secondary weapon status. The gladius is often employed to get the opponent to open themselves up, from worry of a cut until it can be finally employed in the finishing blow. However it is important to state that this 'finishing blow' is not for the gladiators death but rather the last blow of the fight. At least we are starting to think this is how it was done.
