This relatively plain example has the embossed head of Hercules at the front. They also wore a galea, a visored helmet with a large crest and plume. Weapons used by some gladiators included knives and swords, shields, and helmets. Provenance: Pompeii.

A 1st century CE bronze gladiator helmet of the Samnite class. They carried a scutum, or large oval shield, and a gladius, a type of short sword. Samnite gladiators wore an ocrea on the left leg, which is metal or boiled leather armor designed to protect the shin.

Top Answer. What did the samnite wear? 2013-11-08 21:13:58 2013-11-08 21:13:58. Wiki User. The use of the weapons was taught at a professional school called a ludus The Samnite wore warm woollen clothes. (British Museum, London) Gladiators were often criminals and slaves, hired to provide entertainment in the Roman Circus or another arena. There were many different types of gladiators, based on their clothing and weapons. Roman gladiator helmets were richly decorated and plumed with ostrich or peacock feathers.