Short answers, pulled from the story.
A Thraex gladiator used a small shield called a parmula measuring about 60 by 65 centimeters and a curved sword known as a sica. This fighter wore greaves on the lower legs, a protective belt above a simple loincloth, and a helmet with a side plume and high crest.
The fighting style of a Thraex gladiator prioritized agility over brute strength to exploit gaps in enemy defenses. This tactical advantage relied on speed and reach rather than heavy armor protection while using the curved blade of the sica to maim an opponent's unarmored back.
Visual records of Thraex gladiators exist in a mosaic found in Bad Kreuznach Germany and frescoes discovered in Pompeii in 2019. Archaeologists have also uncovered terracotta figurines at the British Museum alongside bronze figurines and sculpted ivory handles from the second century AD.
An inscription documents the role of a doctor thraecum who acted as a teacher for would-be Thracians within formal institutions. Petronius wrote that this specific method was taught inside dedicated training schools under the supervision of these specialized masters.
A Thraex typically fought against a murmillo gladiator which appears frequently in surviving artwork such as mosaics and frescoes. The light armor of the Thraex contrasted sharply with the heavy protection worn by the murmillo to create dramatic tension for spectators.