Gladiator Equites
Equit (Latin: eques) was an ancient Roman type of gladiator who fought on horseback, armed with a lance, sword, and parma. In literal translation, it means "rider."
The term "eques" was also used to refer to cavalry in the ancient Roman army.
The main distinctive feature of equites is that, unlike most other gladiators who fought shirtless, they wore tunics with a classic gladiator balteus worn over them. The main protective elements for equites were a helmet, which was a hybrid of the provocator and murmillo helmets (lacking a crest, with only feathers on the sides), and a cavalry parma with a diameter of approximately 60 cm. The helmet had broad brims, fully covering the face like other gladiators.
Equites usually opened the gladiatorial fights: they fought in the morning, right after the solemn pompa, preceding the animal hunts, executions of criminals, and battles of foot gladiators. In combat, equites typically first threw their spears, then dismounted and continued the fight on foot. They usually fought against each other.
Equit of the one depicted on the glass vase. 2nd century AD 
Bas-relief with equitum. 1st century AD
Oil lamp with equit on the horse. 1-2 century ADEquipment
The equipment of an eques included:
During the reconstruction of a fight on a non-sandy surface, it is recommended to use authentic footwear, such as caligae.
Related topics
Gladiator, Helmet, Balteus, Subligaculum, Gladius, Pugio, Murmillon, Tunic, Gasta, Auxiliary-horseman
Gallery
Mosaic with a duel of equites. 3rd century AD
Gladiator fight. Floor mosaic. Nennig on the Moselle. Germany. Roman villa. Mid-3rd century AD
Mosaic with a duel of equites. 2-3 century AD
