Los retiarii aparecieron por primera vez en el siglo I. y su armamento, un tridente (fuscina) y una red (rete), recordaban a un pescador. También portaba una pequeña daga (pugio) que podía usar como último recurso. Su principal oponente era el secutor, aunque también podía enfrentarse al murmillo.
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The retiarii appeared for first time on the 1st century AD and their weapons, a trident (fuscina) and a net (rete), remembered a fisherman. They also had a small dagger (pugio) that could be used as a last chance. His opponent was the secutor, although he could also be matched with a murmillo.
El retiarius era el gladiador más ligero. Apenas tenía armadura, el cinturón (balteus) y la manica en el brazo izquierdo eran su única protección, junto a la gran hombrera (galerus) que podía proteger parte de la cabeza, ya que no usaban yelmo como el resto de gladiadores.
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The retiarius was the lightest gladiator. He just had armour, a belt (balteus) and a manica on his left arm was his only protection, along with the large shoulder pad (galerus) that could protect part of the head, cause he didn´t wear a helmet as the rest of gladiators.
La escasa armadura, las armas (la red era considerada un símbolo femenino) y sus técnicas de combate evasivas y de ataque a distancia (el nombre de su gladiador oponente, "secutor", significa "el que persigue"), hacían del retiarius el gladiador menos valorado y apreciado por público y sociedad. Sin embargo, dado que el retiarus no se protegía la cabeza y combatía con el rostro descubierto, su popularidad aumentó poco a poco, ya que el público era capaz de humanizar al luchador.
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The lack of armor, their weapons (the net was considered a feminine symbol) and his evasive and ranged attack fighting techniques (the name of his gladiator opponent, "secutor", means "chaser"), made the retiarius the less valued and appreciated gladiator by the public and society. However, as the retiarus didn´t protect his head with a helmet, fighting with his face uncovered, his popularity grew gradually as the public was able to humanize the fighter.
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