The thraex and retiarius were two gladiators who regularly fought each other in the ring. There are references to female gladiators, known as "gladiatrices" or "ludii muliebres", who participated in gladiator fights in ancient Rome. Various Roman writers, such as Tacitus and Dio Cassius, occasionally mentioned female gladiators in their writings. Although they were often described in negative terms, the existence of these mentions suggests that female gladiators indeed participated in the games.
Based on the equipment of their male counterparts, we equipped two gladiatrices: a thraex and a retiarius. The heavily armored, well-armed thraex and the lightly equipped, more agile retiarius were evenly matched.
Tunikas gladiatrices
It is reasonable to assume that gladiatrices, like male gladiators, wore a tunika as a base layer under their armor. The tunika was a simple garment consisting of a loose tunic or a long shirt worn over the body. It served as underclothing and was usually made of linen.
Retiarius aprīkojums
Retiarius - fuscina (trīszobens)
The fuscina was a three-pronged ierocis that the retiarius used. It had three asas punkti attached to the end of a long shaft. The fuscina was designed to thrust and stab, and due to its garums, the enemy could be kept at a better distance.
Retiarius - rete (tīkls)
The rete was a throwing net made of strong and flexible rope or cord. It had weights on the edges to cast the net properly. Once the opponent was caught, the retiarius could attack. Using the rete and fuscina required agility, speed and precision from the retiarius.
Thraex aprīkojums
Thraex - parmula (vairogs)
The parmula was generally round or semi-round in shape with a slightly convex curve. It was smaller than the large, rectangular shields used by some other gladiators. The size varied, but generally the parmula had a diameter of about 60 to 80 centimeters (24 to 31 inches). This size made the shield easier to handle and more maneuverable for the thraex during combat.
Thraex - galea (ķivere)
The galea or helmet of the thraex had a broad rim that curved slightly upward at the sides. It was usually made of metal and lined on the inside with cloth or leather for greater comfort for the wearer. On top of the helmet was a striking, fish-like crest. This may be why the thraex (the fish) was regularly matched against the retiarius (the fisherman).
Thraex - manica (rokas aizsargs)
The thraex wore shin guards to protect the lower legs, and a manica or arm covering over the right arm. The left arm was already protected by the shield. We chose a manica with scales to emphasize the contrast with the retiarius.
Thraex - sica
The thraex was armed with a short, curved sword, the sica. This curved shape allowed the thraex to make quick and powerful cutting movements. The design of the sica ensured that the weight was concentrated close to the handle, which promoted maneuverability and control during combat. The sica was adopted from the Thracians, which may explain the name Thraex.
