shoulder guards

shoulder guards for retiarius

You see a distinctive piece of equipment worn only by the Retiarius ("netman"), because he, alone of all the gladiators, has no helmet or shield to protect his head and neck. His only body armor is this high bronze shoulder guard (galerus), which is appropriately decorated with marine reliefs (a crab, dolphin, trident and anchor). Armed with a short dagger and a long trident (the weapon of Neptune), he seeks to entangle his opponent in a large fisherman's net, though his galerus does not always protect him from his pursuer (Secutor).