Glimmers of gladiators

Everyday objects can sometimes give you a little glimmer of insight into other aspects of life in the past.

Many people have heard of gladiators - their lives have been glamorised in films and even on TV (remember the 90s TV show Gladiators?!).  However the life of a gladiator in Ancient Rome probably wouldn't have been all cheering crowds and fancy costumes.

Roman gladiators were a form of entertainment, armed to fight each other or animals in fierce conflicts.  They were criminals, slaves or volunteers (volunteers risked their lives and position in society when they became gladiators).  All gladiators were sworn by oath into service and trained in schools.  These schools were intensive, training the gladiators to fight, to be disciplined and to face death with dignity.  In these schools, novices were trained in a particular fighting style by specialists (who were probably retired gladiators who had survived the amphitheatre).

So how do we get from the gritty reality of training in mortal combat, living a sparse life and meeting an ultimate end in an amphitheatre.... to little ol' Hull and East Riding Museum?

Through some pretty ordinary objects - Roman oil lamps.  These objects were a cheap way of lighting a home.  They were filled with oil, then a string or fibre wick was placed into the oil and lit.  They would have given off quite a bit of smoke but still been effective at providing light.

Made of pliable clay, lamps could be moulded or shaped into any form and decorated.  Many of the lamps on display in our Roman gallery are decorated with different shapes, patterns or figures.  Two in our collection are decorated with gladiatorial scenes - this is where we get our glimmer of gladiatorial life.

Oil lamp with gladiatorial combat scene (retiarius and secutor):
Hull and East Riding Museum

This lamp shows a combat scene, with two gladiators.  On the right is a retiarius (netman) wearing a short tunic, with one leg bent at the knee, extending a trident in one hand.  On the left is a secutor (pursuer) wearing a rounded helmet, holding a shield in the hand furthest from the viewer and a leg protector on one of the shins.  We're looking right at the action, as the secutor lunges forward to strike.

Oil lamp with gladiator:
Hull and East Riding Museum

There's only one gladiator on this lamp.  The fighter is wearing a helmet and holding both a round shield and a gladius (a short sword).  You can also see a leg protector covering the shin of one leg.


It's possible that these lamps were bought at a gladiatorial match by fans who wanted to take a little bit of the action home with them.  Just like us, despite the hard life that gladiators would have faced, Romans still glamorised their lives as honourable.  Gladiators were committed to their profession (regardless of whether they had a choice), disciplined and brave.  They were able to stand tall in the face of death - that's something we can continue to admire today.