Cestus (boxing)

A cestus or caestus (Classical Latin: [ˈkae̯stʊs], Ancient Greek: Kεστός) is a battle glove that was sometimes used in Roman gladiatorial events.

It was based on a Greek original, which employed straps called himantes and sphirae, hard leather strips that enclosed and protected the fist and lower arm.

[4] At some time in the development of Rome's gladiator games, cestus fighting was introduced as an arena spectacle.

[5] The basic Roman cestus was made of hard leather straps, which enclosed and protected the fighter's lower arm and fist.

[8] Like all arena personnel (arenarii), cestus fighters were either slaves or infames, "infamous ones" who held a very low level of citizenship, their status and privileges severely restricted because of their professional association with blood-pollution and death.