31. A man’s strength or height usually determined what class of gladiator he would train and fight as
Whether they were slaves or freedmen who signed up voluntarily to fight (for money or glory), each future gladiator was first assigned a class. This was usually dependent on a man’s physical stature. For instance, stronger, larger men were more likely to be assigned as dimachaerus, gladiators who fought with two swords at once. The majority would have been made thraeces or murmillones, equipped with a simple sword and shield but little body armor. And the unluckiest slaves would have been made a retiarius. They were armed with a net and a trident. The crowds loved them, but if they missed their opponent when they threw their nets, they were almost completely helpless.