RETIARIUS

The 'Retiarius' (pl. ''Retiari'' or ''Retiarii'') was a Roman gladiator who fought with the gear of a stylized fisherman: a weighted net (''rete,'' hence the name), a three-pointed lance, called a ''trident'' or ''fuscina'', and a dagger; they endeavoured to throw the net over their adversaries, and then attack them with the trident while they were entangled.^[1]
The retiarius was dressed in a short tunic, and wore nothing on his head. If he missed his aim in throwing the net, he betook himself to flight, and endeavoured to prepare his net for a second cast, while his adversary followed him round the arena in order to kill him before he could make a second attempt. His adversary was usually a secutor or a murmillo.
The retiarius was the most vulnerable among gladiators as he would be completely naked when fighting – except for a shoulder guard which protected his face and neck as well. But the Retiarus had one major advantage, he was much more agile than the other gladiators.

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★ James Grout: ''Retiarius'', part of the Encyclopædia Romana