Did Britain Host Gladiators?
“What we do in life echoes in eternity.” This is perhaps one of the most famous quotes from the film Gladiator, uttered by its lead protagonist, Maximus Aurelius. Though a fictional quote, it is also one that can be applied to the original, authentic Roman gladiators who have, over a millennium later, inspired Hollywood blockbusters like Spartacus, Gladiator, and now its sequel, Gladiator 2.
Beyond The Colosseum
Be it in films or lessons, the image of gladiators has typically been of two in combat within the grand Colosseum of Rome. However, just as the Romans brought roads, technology, architecture and culture to Britain, it begs the question, ‘Did they bring gladiatorial arenas and mortal combat to our shores also?’ Until recently, the answer was no, but now new archaeological research suggests that arena-staged battle may have taken place here in the late second century.
Our First Evidence Of Gladiators In Britain
Early last year, archaeologists conducted a new battery of tests on the Colchester Vase, today exhibited in the Colchester and Ipswich Museum, originally discovered in a Roman grave in Colchester in 1853. The recent tests showed that the Vase was made of local clay from around 160 – 200AD. Nothing surprising there, but what made the discovery eye-opening was that the inscription on the vase, which bears the names of two featured gladiators, was not cut into the clay after firing (as was previously thought), but rather before. This means that the inscription was part of the original design and not added later as simply an artistic representation of the gladiatorial arena with no real-time relation to actual events. Experts believe that this suggests the vase was potentially a sports memorabilia piece and had been commissioned by a gladiator trainer or owner and interested party with an immediate connection to the event. It’s also thought that the actual fights took place in the region, probably in one of Colchester’s two theatres.
This has been a significant finding because according to experts from Durham, London, and Reading Universities who were the Time Team behind the research, it is the first piece of compelling evidence of Roman gladiatorial combat being staged in Britain.
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