The secutor is characterized by a large shield, sword, and rounded helmet designed to protect against the net-wielding retiarius, their traditional adversary in Roman arenas. Remarkably ...

In Roman law they were known as Infames ... Murmillos brandished a sword, a shield, leg protectors and a long, grilled helmet. Secutors wore a huge helmet, a big sword and a massive shield.

Bloody, brutal but popular, gladiatorial contests are often seen as the dark side of Roman civilization ... and the Samnites had a sword, an oblong shield and a helmet with a visor.

The Roman Empire was ... (or 'miles') carried a short sword, called a gladius. This was his main weapon. He also carried a 'pilum' (javelin), a helmet, armor, shield and a pack with supplies.

JULIA: I just found this fragment of rusty metal. It doesn’t look like much but this was once a sword. A sword known as…the gladius! The gladius was part of the Roman soldier’s equipment ...