New Pompeii fresco of fighting gladiators

[Duncan Head]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/11/pompeii-dig-unearths-fighting-fresco-gladiators-tavern

[Erpingham]

That's very fine.  One wonders how the loser got a wound on his shield arm.

[Patrick Waterson]

One wonders how the loser got a wound on his shield arm.

At a guess, his opponent slit the shield strap when they were corps-a-corps, hence the shield lying on the ground.  Gladiators did not always 'fight fair', and the arena doubtless saw many a cunning plan unexpectedly implemented, presumably to the delight of the audience.