Despite the fame and notoriety attached to gladiators, they were still considered to be lowly types, and Roman citizens of ... Murmillos brandished a sword, a shield, leg protectors and a long ...

JULIA: I just found this fragment of rusty metal. It doesn’t look like much but this was once a sword. A sword known as…the gladius! The gladius was part of the Roman soldier’s equipment ...

What it is: A wooden and leather shield used by a Roman soldier in battle Where it is from: Dura-Europos, Syria When it was made: Second century A.D. Related: Babylonian tablet preserves student's ...