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Gladiator Lamp
Circa Late 1st-Early 2nd Century AD
Description: Loeschcke Type IA lamp depicting two gladiators, a murmillo and a thraex. The murmillo (right) is typically clad in a loincloth with belt, a manica on his right arm, a gaiter on his left leg and a brimmed helmet with large plume. He holds a gladius, the broad short sword of the murmillo, and appears to have lost the battle as he knees give way and his sword points downward. The opposing gladiator, a thraex (left), wears a loincloth, high greaves and a helmet with a crescent-shaped crest. The thraex holds a short curved sword and a small squared shield that typify this genus of gladiator. A rare and important gladiatorial depiction.
Length: 4 in. (10.2 cm)
Condition: Single neat repair across anterior end of underside.
Provenance: Formerly in a private British collection assembled between 1970-2000.
Reference: See Gladiators and Caesars: The Power of Spectacle in Ancient Rome (British Museum 2000) by Ekart Köhne and Cornelia Ewigleben , no. 32 for a similar lamp with gladiators.
Background: It seems common practice that the murmillo and thraex, both heavyweight gladiators, were pitted against each other during 1st Century AD Rome.
Price: $ 1,400
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