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Laquearius

Laquearius (Latin laquearius, from laqueus, "noose" or "lasso") was a rare and poorly attested type of Roman gladiator armed with a lasso. He is usually interpreted as a variant of the retiarius: instead of a net, the fighter tried to catch an opponent with a loop, interrupt an attack, or create an opening for a trident strike.

The equipment of the laquearius is reconstructed by analogy with the retiarius: manica, shoulder guard or galerus, subligaculum, lasso and trident; a closed helmet was probably absent. Likely opponents included the murmillo, secutor or provocator, the same broad group normally associated with retiarius pairings.

Images of the laquearius are very rare. One possible depiction was found in modern Croatia on a brick showing a gladiator with the inscription EQUOREUS; the object is kept in the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb.

An image of a gladiator, presumably a laquiarius or retiarius. Archaeological Museum of Zagreb, 1st century ADAn image of a gladiator, presumably a laquiarius or retiarius. Archaeological Museum of Zagreb, 1st century AD

Related topics

Gladiator, Retiarius, Murmillo, Secutor, Provocator

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