Crossword clues for retiarius
retiarius
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Retiarius \Re`ti*a"ri*us\, n. [L., fr. rete a net.] (Rom.Antiq.) A gladiator armed with a net for entangling his adversary and a trident for despatching him.
Wiktionary
n. A type of gladiator, who uses a casting net (a rete or iaculum) as a weapon.
Wikipedia
A retiarius (plural retiarii; literally, "net-man" or "net-fighter" in Latin) was a Roman gladiator who fought with equipment styled on that of a fisherman: a weighted net (rete, hence the name), a three-pointed trident (fuscina or tridens), and a dagger ( pugio). The retiarius was lightly armoured, wearing an arm guard ( manica) and a shoulder guard (galerus). Typically, his clothing consisted only of a loincloth (subligaculum) held in place by a wide belt, or of a short tunic with light padding. He wore no head protection or footwear.
The retiarius was routinely pitted against a heavily armed secutor. The net-fighter made up for his lack of protective gear by using his speed and agility to avoid his opponent's attacks and waiting for the opportunity to strike. He first tried to throw his net over his rival. If this succeeded, he attacked with his trident while his adversary was entangled. Another tactic was to ensnare his enemy's weapon in the net and pull it out of his grasp, leaving the opponent defenseless. Should the net miss or the secutor grab hold of it, the retiarius likely discarded the weapon, although he might try to collect it back for a second cast. Usually, the retiarius had to rely on his trident and dagger to finish the fight. The trident, as tall as a human being, permitted the gladiator to jab quickly and keep his distance. It was a strong weapon, capable of inflicting piercing wounds on an unprotected skull or limb. The dagger was the retiarius's final backup should the trident be lost. It was reserved for when close combat or a straight wrestling match had to settle the bout. In some battles, a single retiarius faced two secutores simultaneously. For these situations, the lightly armoured gladiator was placed on a raised platform and given a supply of stones with which to repel his pursuers.
Retiarii first appeared in the arena during the 1st century AD and had become standard attractions by the 2nd or 3rd century. The gladiator's lack of armour and his reliance on evasive tactics meant that many considered the retiarius the lowliest (and most effeminate) of an already stigmatised (i.e. gladiators) class. Passages from the works of Juvenal, Seneca, and Suetonius suggest that those retiarii who fought in tunics may have constituted an even more demeaned subtype (retiarii tunicati) who were not viewed as legitimate retiarii fighters but as arena clowns. Nevertheless, Roman artwork, graffiti, and grave markers include examples of specific net-men who apparently had reputations as skilled combatants and lovers.
Usage examples of "retiarius".
With brute force, Atretes battered the retiarius with scutum and gladius until he found an opening.
One trainer hounded the Thracian, while another whipped the retiarius and shouted for him to fight harder.
The retiarius was on his knees, his hands clutching his middle, blood pouring down over his breechcloth.
In the chariot just behind Atretes was an African retiarius, his trident and net displayed.
Laquearius against Samnite, andabata against retiarius, Thracian against mirmillo.
Turning, he saw a retiarius using his trident to spear a fallen secutor, whose fish-crested helmet offered him little protection.
The retiarius yanked his trident free and tried to retrieve his tangled net before Atretes reached him.
Atretes charged, and the retiarius managed to block his first and second blow.
The old Romans knew how formidable, even in contest with a gladiator equipped with sword, helmet, and shield, was the almost naked retiarius, with his net in one hand and his three-pronged javelin in the other.
The conquering retiarius withdrew his net, and leaning on his spear, looked to the audience for their judgement.
And now, as the spear of the retiarius was not a weapon to inflict instant and certain death, there stalked into the arena a grim and fatal form, brandishing a short, sharp sword, and with features utterly concealed beneath its vizor.
Strength and height count for much in them, while against an active retiarius strength goes for very little.
After I had turned myself into a modest Retiarius, I had no end to success.
The method is that of the Roman retiarius, with whose technique your lordship is no doubt familiar.
Like as not, now, some toe-dancing stripling of a retiarius will entangle me in his net this very afternoon, and no mercy signal has been or will be given this day.