Caestus
Literally: the one who strikes
Also known as: cestus
A combat glove of ancient fist fighters made from hard leather straps, which the Romans studded with nails for gladiatorial games, and in extreme form even with spikes.
Quick Facts
About the weapon
Caestus, also cestus, was the combat glove of ancient fist fighters. The Roman form was based on a Greek model, in which the fist was wrapped in hard leather straps called himantes and sphairai. The Latin word caestus translates as "the one who strikes". The basic Roman caestus consisted of hard leather straps that wrapped around and protected the fist and forearm. The straps could be studded with nails, and in extreme form even with spikes. In Greece, boxing with the caestus was part of the Olympic Games. Theagenes of Thasos, an Olympic victor in 480 BCE, is said to have killed most of his opponents, and after his death he was worshipped in a hero cult. In Rome, fighting with the caestus appeared at gladiatorial games; the fighters most likely faced opponents equipped the same way and apparently wore no armor besides the caestus. They were slaves or so-called infames, people with very limited civil rights. The caestus is depicted in the Hellenistic bronze statue the Boxer at Rest.