08-09-2014, 05:45 PM
Quote:These are the Essedarii i mentioned above,
In republican times they fought with flat oval thureos type shields and Port type helmets, and were probably still called Gallus by then. Later we see them with these egg shaped helmets, similar to the Secutor helmet but without the crest and with feather holders on each side.
They do not wear greaves and sometimes fight with swords that have the point squared of, supposedly to enforce a more slashing style of fighting.
In the mosaic both have the shields to the left of each other maybe even in light contact, to "feel" each others movement, both have the swords raised with a a bent elbow indicating a more cutting style of fighting.
The Scutum curved on one side, either top or bottom, is sometimes shown used by Secutores. It helps in letting the trident slide away if the Retiarius tries to hook it behind the Scutum.
This seems to be a special adaption for this pairing though and I doubt it had significance for the military.
Provocatores can be seen at the right on this band of the mosaic. The Zliten moasic is the only depiction of them having a feathered crest, but otherwise they show all the gear of Provocatores, i.e. shorter square Scuti,breast plates, knee length greave for the front leg, as well as a padded thigh on the front leg as well.
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Doesn't essedarii mean gladiators fighting from chariots (essedum=chariot)? Why would those gladiator types in the mosaic, fighting on foot with large oval curved scuta with short swords, be classified as charioteers by those studying the mosaic? Was there some notes or something included in the original mosaic that identified them as dismounted charioteers?
