The Thraex (pl.: Thraeces), or Thracian, was a type of Roman gladiator armed in Thracian style. His equipment included a parmula, a small shield (about 60 × 65 cm) that might be rectangular, square or circular; and a sica, a short sword with a curved blade like a small version of the Dacian falx, intended to maim an opponent's unarmoured back.

The Thraex (plural Thraeces, "Thracians") wore the same protective armour as the hoplomachi with a broad rimmed helmet that enclosed the entire head, distinguished by a stylized griffin on the protome or front of the crest (the griffin was the companion of the avenging goddess Nemesis), a small round or square-shaped shield (parmula), and two ...

The thraex Gladiators are the oldest type of gladiator, and also often thought to be one of the most common. Of all the gladiator categories, this is one class that did not evolve into a variation of themselves or another gladiator.

Sep 4, 2023 · The Thracian, or Thraex (Latin for ‘Thracian’), was a class of Roman gladiators who fought with a sica and a parma. It was one of the “ethnic” gladiators in ancient Rome, along with the Gaulish Murmillo and Samnite gladiator classes.

May 3, 2023 · The Thraex is probably the most well-known of all gladiator types. Immortalized through the story of Spartacus, the Thracian slave gladiator who gathered an army of 70,000 slaves and led an uprising against the Roman Empire, winning several battles against his captors.

The Thraex (Thracian) was easily recognized by his sica (short j-shaped sword), a small oblong shield and a helmet with an image of a griffin. He was lightly armored, with just leg and arm protectors, forcing him to rely on speed and agility to defeat his …

Apr 12, 2023 · The Thraex, or Thracian gladiator, would use a small, circular shield and sword. These gladiators are the ones we most associate with the spectacle today. Spartacus was a Thracian.

May 29, 2013 · The Thraex wears a broad-rimmed helmet that enclosed the entire head, a small square-shaped shield (parmula), and two thigh-length greaves. His weapon is the Thracian curved sword. Thraeces were introduced as replacements for …

A Thraex (Latin: thraex) was a type of gladiator equipped with a shield and a sword. Initially, this term referred to gladiators who were originally from Thrace, but over time it came to denote a specific type of gladiator and his set of equipment, regardless of the fighter's origin.

Thraex Map of south-eastern Europe, showing ancient Thrace in dark yellow over the borders of the modern States of Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey. Thrace became Roman province in 44 CE.