Bakalarska_prace_-_Lukas_Kratochvil

3.1.A.2. Thraex’s Helmet, Subtype Pompeii H7

Location: Italy. Naples, Museo Archeologico Nazionale.

Inventory no.: 5649.

Material: Bronze.

Measures: Height with visor and crest: 43.5 cm, visor only: 22 cm, crest: 11 cm; width: 37.5 cm. Inner length and width: 22 cm. Diameter of the grill eye-cover: 8.5 cm. Brim: width on front: 6.4 cm, on back 8 cm. Thickness of the bronze plate: 0.95-1.18 mm, with rim: 2.97-4.23 mm. Weight 3400 g.

State of preservation: Good.

Provenance: Pompeii, Quadriporticus of the Theatre (gladiator’s barracks).

Dating: 1st century AD.

Description: This Thraex’s bronze helmet is, in terms of design, an older version of subtypes Pompeii H12 and H13. It has a flat brim and circular visor gratings which do not go through the brim. These are fastened by hinges directly to the cheek pieces. Cheek pieces slide under the range of the brim in the front part into the bulging holder. On the top of the crest there is a griffin’s head. The forehead of helmet is decorated by a palm tree, while on the cheek pieces there are discoid patterns. The helmet is decorated by embossing, perforation and engraving.

Bibliography: Fiorelli 1869, p. 16, no. 279; Bettinali Graeber 1988/1999, p. 115-119, no. 20; Junkelmann, M. Das Spiel mit der Todt – So kämpften Roms Gladiatoren. Mainz 2000, p. 165; Il gladiatore / The gladiator 2008, p. 33.

Figs 3.1.A.2.1-2. Thraex’s helmet type Pompeii H7 (after: Junkelmann M. Das Spiel mit der Todt – So kämpften Roms Gladiatoren 2000)

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3.1.A.3. Thraex’s Helmet, Subtype Pompeii H13

Location: Italy. Capua, Museo dei Gladiatori.

Inventory no.: 5650.

Material: Bronze.

Measures: Height with visor and crest: 45.5 cm, visor only: 22 cm; width: 44 cm; thickness of the bronze plate: 1.2 mm, with rim: 3.4 mm. Weight 4000 g.

State of preservation: Good.

Provenance: Pompeii, Quadriporticus of the Theatre (gladiators’ barracks).

Dating: AD 50-75.

Description: Bronze helmet, richly decorated. In terms of design it is identical to subtype H12. The crest of the helmet is simpler than type H12. On the top of the crest there is a griffin’s head. A Medusa head is on the forehead, while on the sides there are dolphins jumping in the waves, indicated all around the circumference of the helmet. The helmet is decorated by embossing, perforation and engraving.

Bibliography: Fiorelli 1869, p. 16, no. 280; Bettinali-Graeber 1988/1999, p. 120-124, no. 21; La Regina 2001, p. 373.

Figs 3.1.A.3.1-2. Thraex’s helmet type Pompeii H13 (after: Junkelmann M. Das Spiel mit der Todt – So kämpften Roms Gladiatoren 2000)

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3.2 Ocreae (“Greaves”)

The disadvantage of the small shield used by thraex and hoplomachus was compensated by the pair of high ocreae. In the Roman army greaves were not very common: both in the Late Republic and during the Imperial period, they were worn only by centuriones38.

All of the original finds of ocreae come from gladiatorial barracks in Pompeii. There were found five pairs of long greaves, differing from each other in height and in the frequency of decoration. The greaves were made from one piece of bronze sheet and were bordered with a thin bronze strip covering the rough edge (Fig. 4a). They protect always only the front part of the legs. There were pair of rings attached by two rivets on both sides (Fig. 4b): through these rings passed leather straps, tied on the back of the leg.

Figs. 4a -c. (left) Detail of the bordered with thin bronze plate. (middle) Detail of the loop attached by two rivets. (right) Detail of the projection for a kneecap. (photograph by the Author)

38 Junkelmann, , 2000, p. 73-76, Nossov 2009, p. 91-94.

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The decoration of ocreae differs piece by piece. Some of them have no decoration39; on the contrary, some are very richly decorated, mostly by stamping, engraving, bashing and perforation40. All types of high graves have a projection for a the kneecap (pict Fig. 4c.). Alike helmets, we do not know whether these richly decorated greaves were not only for ceremonial armoury41, worn by gladiators only when entering the arena on parade (pompa) at the opening of the games. For fighting simpler greaves were used. More than half of discovered graves carry inscriptions, such as “N.C.A.”, “NER.”, “NER. AVG.”, which are the marks of the familia gladiatoria42. The inscription “M.C.P.” was probably the mark of a crafter, because it was found on ten identical pieces of armour43. There are no inscriptions made by the gladiators themselves on their equipment, unlike the military one, which was often signed by the owners44. The issue of the construction and using of Thracian ocreae is described in detail here below in Chapter 5.5.

39Entry 3.2.A.1.

40Entry 3.2.A.4.

41Chapter 6.

42In these cases, the inscriptions seem to indicate that the greaves had been made for the Imperial gladiatorial school (specifically of Nero): Nossov 2009, p. 93.

43Nossov 2009, p. 93-94.

44In some cases we can find the signatures of more users on a single piece.

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3.2.A.1. Thraex’s/hoplomachus’s greaves subtype Pompeii B1 and B2

Location: Italy. Naples, Museo Archeologico Nazionale.

Inventory no.: 5644, 5648.

Material: Bronze.

Measures: Height: 52.8 cm; thickness of the bronze plate: 1.13-2.5 mm, with rim: 3.65 mm.

Weight 2200 g.

State of preservation: Good.

Provenance: Pompeii, Quadriporticus of the Theatre (gladiator’s barracks).

Dating: second quarter of the 1st century AD.

Description: Pair of bronze high greaves. As far as it is known, this is the only extant pair without decoration. In the area of kneecap they are bulging. Above the knee, there are two shallow drop-shaped bulges bordered by a vault line from engraved from the obverse of the surface. Each greave is completely bordered by a thin bronze sheet. There are three pairs of rings attached by two rivets on both sides, for the fastening to the leg with leather straps passing through them. On the lower edge of the greave inv. no. 5648 there is the mark of the Imperial workshop: NER(ONIS). AVG.(VSTI) (“of Nero Augustus”).

Bibliography: Fiorelli 1869, p. 20, nos 296-297, Bettinali-Graeber 1988/1999, 82 No. 2a-b., Junkelmann, M. Das Spiel mit der Todt – So kämpften Roms Gladiatoren, Mainz 2000, p. 180 cat. B1 and B2; La Regina 2001, p. 386.

Figs 3.2.A.1.1-2. Thraex’s/hoplomachus’s greaves type Pompeii B1 and

B2 (after: Junkelmann M. Das Spiel mit der Todt – So kämpften Roms

Gladiatoren 2000)

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3.2.A.2. Thraex’s/hoplomachus’s greaves subtype Pompeii B3 and B4

Location: Italy. Naples, Museo Archeologico Nazionale.

Inventory no.: 5645 and 5647.

Material: Bronze.

Measures: Height: 55.5 cm; thickness of the bronze plate: 1.12-1.62 mm, with rim: 4.75-5.35

mm.

State of preservation: Good.

Provenance Pompeii, Quadriporticus of the Theatre (gladiators’ barracks).

Dating: Second quarter of the 1st century AD.

Description: Pair of high bronze greaves. In the term of design it is identical to types B1 and B2. Thy are decorated with engraved ornamental patterns on the upper and lower edges. A vault line is in the lower part decorated with short bashed. In the area of the knee the are two characters. On the right greave (inv. no. 5647) is naked Neptune, depicted holding a trident in his left hand and a small dolphin in his right hand. On the left greave (inv. no. 5645) there is naked Jupiter, standing between two trees, holding a long sceptre in the left hand and a bundle of bolts in the right hand.

Bibliography: Fiorelli 1869, p. 20, nos 299-300; Bettinali-Graeber 1988/1999, p. 59-64, no. 9a-b; Junkelmann, M. Das Spiel mit der Todt – So kämpften Roms Gladiatoren, Mainz 2000, p. 180 cat. B3 and B4: La Regina 2001, p. 387; Il gladiatore / The gladiator 2008, p. 37.

Fig. 3.2.A.2.1. Thraex’s/hoplomachus’s greaves type Pompeii B3 and B4 (after: http://www.utexas.edu/courses/introtogreece/gladiators/img13greaves.html; last access: 1.7.2012)

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