A 19th-century archaeological discovery, the so-called Colchester Vase, has recently undergone a re-evaluation that could change perceptions about gladiatorial spectacles in the Roman province of Britannia. This object, a ceramic piece dated between 160 and 200 AD, is considered a unique graphic and epigraphic testimony to the existence of gladiatorial combats in the Roman city of Camulodunum, now known as Colchester.
The research, led by Glynn J.C. Davis and John Pearce, with the collaboration of several experts in archaeology, epigraphy, and isotopic analysis, suggests that the Colchester Vase is not merely a decorative piece but a special commission that documents an actual combat held in the city. The inscription, incised before the vessel was fired, contains the names of the combatants depicted in relief, indicating that these were real figures rather than mere symbolic characters.
One of the names that has caught researchers’ attention is Memnon, identified as a secutor, a type of gladiator specialized in fighting against the retiarii, who carried a net and a trident. The name Memnon, of Greek origin, is associated with the legendary Ethiopian king from the Trojan War, suggesting that it may have been a stage name, a common practice in the gladiatorial world. Additionally, the inscription mentions that Memnon had fought in at least nine combats, indicating a distinguished career within the Roman entertainment circuit.
Another significant name in the inscription is Valentinus, associated with the Legio XXX Ulpia Victrix, stationed in Xanten, in present-day Germany. This finding suggests a link between gladiators and the Roman army, a relationship debated among historians, as it has been proposed that some legions may have maintained their own groups of gladiators. The fact that Valentinus has no recorded combats in the inscription could indicate that he was a tiro, a novice gladiator in his first fight.
The Colchester Vase was discovered in 1853 in a tomb in the western part of the city, where it served as a funerary urn. Inside, the cremated remains of a man over 40 years old were found, identified as non-local thanks to strontium isotope analysis conducted at Durham University. While it is unlikely that the remains belonged to one of the gladiators mentioned in the inscription, researchers speculate that he could have been the sponsor of the event, a gladiator trainer (lanista), or a games organizer (editor).
The study of the bones has revealed signs of osteoarthritis and hip injuries, which could be evidence of a life of intense physical activity. The way the remains were cremated also provides information about funerary practices in Roman Britannia, suggesting that the cremation process was carried out by professionals rather than the deceased’s family.
The Colchester Vase adds to a series of findings that indicate the presence of Roman spectacles in the city, such as fragments of wall paintings depicting gladiators, molds of figures in relief, and a knife with a handle shaped like a murmillo, another type of gladiator.
Although no amphitheater has been found in Colchester, the presence of a Roman circus, the only one known in Britannia, supports the theory that the city could have been a center for public entertainment, where both chariot races and gladiatorial combats were part of daily life.
The commercial and military connections between Colchester and the Lower Rhine may have facilitated the transfer of gladiators and animals for the spectacles. Epigraphic documents found in the Germanic region suggest the capture of bears for the venationes, the combats with wild animals, which could explain the hunting scene depicted on the Colchester Vase.
SOURCES
Davis GJC, Pearce J, Carroll E, Moore J, Nowell G, Montgomery J. Gladiators at Roman Colchester: Re-Interpreting the Colchester Vase. Britannia. 2024;55:3-24. doi:10.1017/S0068113X24000187
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