What is an operatic spear carrier?

In opera, a spear carrier (also known as a supernumerary) is a performer who appears on stage without any singing or spoken lines. Usually members of the chorus, spear carriers are often used to enhance the visual impact of a scene, provide a sense of scale, and create atmosphere. Depending on the production and the director, spear carriers may simply stand in the background, move around in stylized patterns, or even interact with the other characters in the scene.

In the early days of opera, they would literally carry spears or other weapons as part of their performance, but that practice has since fallen out of favor. Spear carriers are usually identified by their costumes, which are typically simple and designed to blend into the background. They may also wear masks or hoods to conceal their identities.