Who among the following gladiators typically fought with little protective gear?

The Retiarius is the gladiator who typically fought with little protective gear. This type of gladiator was known for their unique fighting style, which relied on mobility and speed, rather than heavy armor. The Retiarius would usually wear only a minimal amount of protection, such as a light tunic, and was equipped with a net (rete) and a trident (fuscina) as their main weapons. The lack of armor permitted them to move quickly and dart around the arena, seeking to entangle their opponents with the net and strike with the trident.

In contrast, other types of gladiators, such as the Thrax, Essedarius, and Secutor, were characterized by their heavier armor and more protective gear. The Thrax, for example, typically wore a helmet and a type of arm protection, while the Secutor was equipped with a full greave and a helmet designed to protect against the Retiarius’s net strategy. The Essedarius, a chariot-fighting gladiator, also had substantial protective gear suited for combat in a different fighting context.

Thus, the Retiarius stands out for their distinctive reliance on agility and tactics over heavy protection, marking them as gladiators who fought with relatively little