mirmillo

mirmillo (murmillo, myrmillo), ōnis, m. [μορμύλος],

• a kind of gladiator that used to fight with a Thracian (Threx), or a net-fighter (retiarius), and wore a Gallic helmet, with the image of a fish for a crest (whence the name): retiario pugnanti adversus mirmillonem cantatur: Non te peto, piscem peto, quid me fugis, Galle? quia mirmillonicum genus armaturae Gallicum est, ipsique mirmillones ante Galli appellabantur, in quorum galeis piscis effigies inerat, Paul. ex Fest. s. v. retiario, p. 284 and 285 Müll.: ille autem ex myrmillone dux, ex gladiatore imperator, Cic. Phil. 3, 12, 31; 5, 7, 20; 6, 4, 10; 6, 7, 13; 12, 8, 20; Quint. 6, 3, 61; Sen. Prov. 4, 4; Suet. Ner. 30; Amm.16, 12, 49; 23, 6, 83; Inscr. Grut. 334, 3; Inscr. Orell. 25, 66; Inscr. Marin. Fratr. Arval. p. 165, 1.