Deadly games in Roman Dorchester? Gladiator shows and beastly spectacles in Britannia
Join Dr John Pearce for a talk that explores the reality of gladiatorial spectacles and reveals the grim truths behind these celebrated events at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery on Thursday 24 April, 6:00pm – 7:00pm.
Violent spectacles, pitting humans and animals against one another for the pleasure of a crowd are a well-known markers of Roman culture, thrillingly re-imagined in films like Gladiator II. But can we understand the reality of gladiator shows behind the modern myths, especially in remote parts of the empire like Britain? Maumbury Rings and other Romano-British amphitheatres impress us still, but what happened within them?
This talk will explore recent research by the speaker and others on new discoveries and older finds, including objects, images and skeletal remains. This allows us to see not only the uncomfortable reality of death and mutilation in arenas like those of Dorchester. The same evidence also illuminates the networks which brought star performers, human and animal, to Britannia from the furthest corners of the empire, and reveals the fan culture which sustained the holding of spectacles in its cities and garrisons.
This event is part of the public programme supporting the British Museum Partnership Exhibition with Colchester + Ipswich Museums: Gladiators of Britain (open 25 January – 11 May 2025).
About the speakers
Dr John Pearce is a lecturer in Archaeology at King’s College, London. His research areas include archaeology of the Roman western provinces, funerary archaeology; Latin epigraphy, ancient documents and literacy; Roman artefact studies; archaeology of Roman and pre-Roman landscapes.
Image: Glass ‘sports cup’ decorated with fights between legendary gladiators, 1st century AD © Colchester and Ipswich Museum Service
