Recognising Gladiators: Ⅲ the Provocator

 

Fig.❶ Relief showing one provocator surrendering to another, Pompeii, 20-50 CE, Gladiator exhibition ("Gladiatoren: Helden van het Colosseum"), Gallo-Romeins Museum, Tongeren (Belgium).

The name of this type of gladiator “provocator” means “challenger”. 

☑　Clothes

Like most types of gladiators, provocatores wear a “subligaculum”, which is a loincloth held in place by a wide belt. Also like most other types, they often have some kind of cloth or leather covering the top of their feet, but they are almost never shown wearing shoes with soles. The term “gladiator sandals” therefore seems to be an invention of the sword-and-sandal movies of the 1950s and ‘60s. It was later further popularised by the fashion industry.

☑　Manica (armguard)

Only on the right arm, there is a “manica” (arm guard) because this is the arm that will need to leave the protection of the shield to lash out at the opponent. The left arm is always behind the shield so there is no need for a manica. In fact, wearing one on the left arm would only add extra weight and hinder the arm’s movement.

☑　Ocrea

An ocrea (greave), is only attached to the left leg [i] as this is the one nearest to the opponent. In the typical gladiator stance, the right leg is put behind the left one, just like in many modern martial arts. The right leg therefore is not an interesting target for the opponent.  The ocrea reaches from the foot up, to either just below or just above the knee. Since the upper leg is usually safe behind the scutum, preference is given to allowing extra speed and movement by not covering it.

☑　Pectorale

The provocator is the only one of the 7 types I discuss to wear a pectorale (breastplate), making him the most heavily armed. Some pectorala have rounded corners (Fig. ❶), whereas others are shaped like a crescent moon (Fig. ❷). 

☑　Cassis / Galea

The provocator wears a “cassis” or “galea” made of bronze or iron.
Of all the gladiator helmets, the one used by the provocator looks the most like a Roman military helmet.

Fig.❷ Relief of a funeral monument depicting two Republican provocatores. (Note the lack of visors). Rome, about 30 BCE, Gladiator exhibition ("Gladiatoren: Helden van het Colosseum"), Gallo-Romeins Museum, Tongeren (Belgium).

During the days of the Republic, the helmets they wore were almost indistinguishable from military ones (Fig.❷), but by the Imperial period, the cheek guards had become so wide that they encapsulated the entire face, morphing into a visor (Fig.❸&❹).
Sometimes, two feathers are put on top (Fig.❷).

 

Fig.❸ Bronze provocator helmet: frontal view, Pompeii, 1-79 CE, Gladiator exhibition ("Gladiatoren: Helden van het Colosseum"), Gallo-Romeins Museum, Tongeren (Belgium).

☑　Scutum

Just like the murmillo and the secutor, the provocator carried a large semi-cylindrical shield called “scutum”. They are similar to the ones used by the Roman military. The corners on these scuta were sometimes sharp [i], other times they were fairly rounded (Fig.❷). It seems likely that the provocator’s shield also had a horizontal centre grip.

 

Fig.❹ Bronze provocator helmet: side view. Pompeii, 1-79 CE, Gladiator exhibition ("Gladiatoren: Helden van het Colosseum"), Gallo-Romeins Museum, Tongeren (Belgium).

☑　Gladius

The provocator uses a “gladius”, which is also the weapon of choice of other scutum-carrying fighters (the murmillo, the secutor and the Roman legionary). This straight short sword is ideal for thrusting.

Opponent

A provocator was always pitted against another provocator, what basically makes him the heavily armed version of the eques. The provocator had the same basic equipment as the murmillo and the secutor, but

➀ he had a superior helmet: Unlike the murmillo’s helmet, the provocator's did not have a heavy crest that can get stuck + better neck protection and bigger eye holes than the secutor’s helmet, improving vision and likely also breathing.
➁ he had a pectorale －which offered him extra protection.A duel with another type of gladiator is likely to result in an unfair match.

References:[i] Imperial Romans New Zealand. "Gladiators' tombstones from Ephesus Museum in Selcuk"
http://www.imperium-romana.org/uploads/5/9/3/3/5933147/9997228_orig.jpg (accessed September 14, 2016).

Also see:
Shadrake, Susanna (2005) 2011. The World of the Gladiator. Didcot: Tempus Publishing. Reprint, Stroud: The History Press.