John, Carl, thanks!

I do wonder why manufacturers don't sell these gladiator figures as fighting pairs. Action poses are great but they do tend to look a wee bit weird without an opponent. Apart from that it'd encourage customers to buy twice as much!

The painting on this figure is definitely first class though. Imagine it doubled with a fighting opponent!

I check in the Osprey. Yes you are right. My mistake.

It's Ok. I'm not trying to score points. Do you mean the Osprey book by Wisdom or Nossov? The Wisdom book is 2nd hand derivative rubbish (I could name right now the two or three books he used. It was actually me who suggested the few corrections they made in later reprintings although I never got any acknowledgement. Bah!) but the Nossov is a good summary of the latest research. Anyway, let's not hijack the thread of such a gorgeously painted little miniature!

HAHAHA I have Wisdom. On the one color plate are Hoplomacus and Provocator together at the end of the fight. But the plate is a little bit confusing and unless one do not read plate commentary carefully it will not know who is who. I got myself confuse this way. You are obviously expert in the subject. I will try to find Nossov, but I do not think it has a color plates. Any other Gladiator book to recommend?
I do not think that Sergey will be angry for this little off topic. Discussion will be beneficial for everyone.