Asecutor (pl. secutores) was a class ofgladiator inancient Rome. Thought to have originated around 50 AD, the secutor ("follower" or "chaser", fromsequor "I follow, come or go after") was armed similarly to themurmillo gladiator and like themurmillo, was protected by a heavy shield. A secutor usually carried a short sword, agladius, or adagger. The secutor was specially trained to fight aretiarius, a type of lightly armoured gladiator armed with atrident and net.
The secutor wore asubligaculum (loincloth) and abalteus (a wide belt much like that of the retiarius). On his right arm he wore amanica (a heavy linen or metal wrapping tied with leather thongs). On his left leg he wore anocrea (a greave made of boiled leather or metal). He also carried ascutum (a curved rectangular shield) to protect himself.[1]
The very distinctive helmet of the secutor had only two small eye-holes, in order to prevent a retiarius' trident from being thrust through the face, as well as a rounded top, so as not to get caught in a net. The flanges protecting his neck were smooth and shaped like fish fins for this purpose. Because of the weight and lack of space in the helmet, the secutor had to win quickly, lest he fall to exhaustion or faint due to breath constrictions and heavy armor.
The secutor was specially trained to fight aretiarius, a type of lightly armoured gladiator armed with atrident and net. This matchup was particularly popular, as it pitted the secutor's heavy armor against the lightweight retiarius. On account of his heavy armor, a secutor was prone to exhaustion during longer matches, and thus relied on quickly concluding the battle to gain victory. The retiarius was lightly equipped in order to evade the secutor's attacks, attempting to exhaust the secutor.
The match-up dramatized an encounter between the "fisherman" (retiarius) and a "fish" (secutor). The retiarius used his net to catch the secutor who was equipped with fish-themed armor bearing scaly patterns and smooth contours.[2]Isidore of Seville noted an association between the retiarius with Neptune, the god of water, and the secutor withVulcan, the god of fire. He reasons that this is because fire is a pursuer, and fire and water are always at odds.[3][4]
A Syrian, he died at the age of 30, after having fought 34 times—winning 21, drawing 9, and needingmissio (to be spared) only four times.[5] Flamma also received the highest reward four times, arudi (wooden sparring sword), which came with the opportunity to stop being a gladiator. Each time he refused the offer, and continued his career.[6]
Roman Emperor Commodus fought as a secutor, taking to the arena 735 times.[7] His victories were often welcomed by his bested opponents, as bearing scars dealt by the hand of an Emperor were considered a mark of fortitude. Commodus' opponents always surrendered after they were bested. Commodus never killed his gladiatorial adversaries, instead accepting their surrenders.[8]
Commodus' time as a gladiator was not well received by the Roman public. According toHerodian, spectators of Commodus thought it unbecoming of an emperor to take up arms in the amphitheater for sport when he could be campaigning againstbarbarians among other opponents of Rome. The consensus was that it was below his office to participate as a gladiator.[9]
After Commodus' death in 192 AD, theRoman Senate imposeddamnatio memoriae upon Commodus. As a result of his damnation, according toCassius Dio, the Roman public no longer referred to Commodus by his name or as Emperor after his death. Instead, he was referred to as 'the gladiator' or 'the charioteer' as a means to demean his name.[10]
