A recent re-evaluation of the Colchester Vase, a 19th-century archaeological discovery, sheds new light on gladiatorial combat in Roman Britannia. The vase, dating back to CE 160–200,
According to a recent study the Colchester Vase is more than just a decorative artifact; it is a commissioned piece that documents a real combat event that took place in Colchester. Discovered in 1853 during excavations in the western cemetery area of Colchester, England, the vase enriched a collection of findings that testify to the presence of Roman spectacles in the city.
The study was led by Glynn J.C. Davis and John Pearce, with collaboration from several experts in archaeology, epigraphy, and isotopic analysis.
The research revealed that the inscription was incised before the vessel was fired, challenging previous assumptions that it was added afterward. The names of the combatants depicted in relief suggest it was a commissioned piece celebrating a local event.
Among the names that intrigued researchers is Memnon, identified as a secutor—a type of gladiator known for battling against retiarii, who wielded nets and tridents. According to Enikos, the name "Memnon," of Greek origin and associated with the legendary Ethiopian king from the Trojan War, suggests it may have been an artistic stage name—a common practice in the gladiatorial world. The inscription shows that Memnon participated in at least nine combats, indicating a distinguished career within the Roman entertainment circuit.
Another name discovered in the inscription is Valentinus. Valentinus is connected with the legion XXX Ulpia Victrix, which was stationed in the city of Xanten in present-day Germany. The absence of recorded combats for Valentinus in the inscription may indicate that he was a tiro, or novice gladiator, participating in his first fight.
The vase was ultimately used as a cremation urn, and it contained the cremated remains of a non-local male over 40 years old, discovered during the initial excavation. Isotope analysis conducted at Durham University revealed that the remains were of non-local origin. The study of the bones revealed signs of osteoarthritis and hip injuries, which could be evidence of a life of intense physical activity.
While it is unlikely that the remains belonged to one of the gladiators mentioned in the inscription, researchers speculate that the deceased could have been the sponsor of the event, a gladiator trainer (lanista), or a games organizer (editor), according to Enikos.
The study joins a growing body of evidence for the existence of Roman spectacles in Colchester. Other findings in the city include fragments of wall paintings featuring gladiators, molds for creating relief figures, and a knife with a handle designed in the likeness of a murmillo, another class of gladiator.
Although no amphitheater has been discovered in Colchester, the presence of the Roman circus—the only known one in Great Britain—supports the theory that the city was a center of public entertainment. The commercial and military connections between Colchester and the Lower Rhine may have facilitated the transport of gladiators and animals for spectacles.
The study by Davis, Pearce, and others, titled "Gladiators at Roman Colchester: Re-Interpreting the Colchester Vase," was published in Britannia, volume 55, pages 3–24, in 2024. The research is part of Colchester Museums' ongoing "Decoding the Dead" project, which aims to explore the cultural and social dynamics of gladiatorial games in the north-west provinces of the Roman Empire.
Camulodunum, in antiquity, was the settlement located at the site of the present-day town of Colchester in Essex, England. Before the Roman conquest of the island, Camulodunum was a Celtic settlement. The Celtic name "Camulodunum" means "the Fortress of Camulus," with Camulus being a god of the British peoples corresponding to the god Mars.
Camulodunum eventually became a colony of soldiers who had completed their service, known as Colonia Claudia Victricensis. It is considered the oldest and first Roman city in Britain by Roman sources. Archaeological findings suggest that the settlement existed 3,000 years before the Roman conquest.
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq