TERRACOTTA STATUE OF A ROMAN GLADIATOR

Gladiators and gladiatorial combat were a frequent feature of Roman art Rome, 1st – 2nd century CE

The importance of gladiators, not only as a form of entertainment but also as an integral part of Roman culture and society, cannot be overstated. Such was their popularity that throughout the Roman Empire’s entire duration and across its lands they were depicted in art, from mosaics and pottery to reliefs and even small figurines such as the one shown here. This item depicts a very particular type of gladiator – a secutor – who was often pitted against another common type of fighter – the retiarius. Artefacts portraying gladiatorial combat have been found across the former empire, helping show how widespread these fights were. In 2023, tests conducted on the Colchester Vase – which depicts two warring gladiators – concluded that it had been made in Britain. This, alongside…

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All About History (Digital) - 1 Issue, Issue 149

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