Roman statuette of “Thraex”

Roman statuette depicting a gladiator of “Thraex” type. The warrior is shown wearing a typical helmet with a curved sword. The object is made of bronze and dates back to the 2nd century CE. The object was found in Dubljani (Serbia). Nowadays it can be admired at the National Museum of Serbia in Belgrade.

Thraex was a favourite kind of gladiator of Caligula. He had a helmet that covered the entire head, a small round or square shield (parma) and greaves. He fought with the curved Thracian sword (sica) – considered the traditional weapon of the Thrace warriors – mostly against murmillo.