thraex

Denied Spartacuss flank, meanwhile, the thraex might have ducked and lunged at Spartacuss unprotected right leg. He might even have attempted the more difficult move of leaping up, powering his right arm over the top of Spartacuss shield, and stabbing him with his curved sica.

The Spartacus War Barry Strauss 2009

With his fifteen-pound scutum, a strong murmillo could hit harder, but a fast thraex could get in more blows in rapid succession with his seven-pound parmula.

The Spartacus War Barry Strauss 2009

His arms and armor were similar to the murmillos but the thraex carried a small shield parmula that made him lighter and more mobile.

The Spartacus War Barry Strauss 2009

He held his shield close to his body to prevent the thraex from rapping at it with his parmula and destabilizing it.

The Spartacus War Barry Strauss 2009

The thraex was also a heavyweight but he had to be quicker and more agile.

The Spartacus War Barry Strauss 2009

Whether to finish off the thraex was not up to a gladiator or referee; it was up to the producer editor.

The Spartacus War Barry Strauss 2009

And the thraex carried a curved sword sica, like the one used by Thracians in battle.

The Spartacus War Barry Strauss 2009

A murmillo like Spartacus never fought another murmillo; instead, he was usually paired with a thraex.

The Spartacus War Barry Strauss 2009

Knowing how much damage the curved sword of the thraex could do, Spartacus guarded his flank.

The Spartacus War Barry Strauss 2009

The smart move for Spartacus would have been to feint, thereby tempting the thraex into thrusting toward himonly to find Spartacus ready to parry and deliver a deadly riposte.

The Spartacus War Barry Strauss 2009