Gladiators exhibit at Rome's Colosseum
 

Was in Italy and I found "Gladiatores" a nice exhibit as its repro weapons and attire were all based on archeological artifacts.

The exhibit was held at the Colosseum in Rome by the way.

In the exhibit write-up, they also mentioned that they even simulated the ergonomics of the repro pieces they made, just to make sure that their reconstruction is sound.

Some sample pics are below. All of the 364 pics I took are here. I took photos of all the displays and write-ups.

Below is one more sample pic of the repro weapons. Then the two other pics refer to the real deal, as excavated in Pompeii, etc. As mentioned, more than 300 pics of the exhibit are in the link above.

Cool exhibit, thanks for the pictures Miguel!
Nice to see examples of the curved sica/falx, one of my favourite blade types. Look a lot like the Indian bank.

Regards,
Emanuel

Yes, the sicas are fascinating.
Outstansing pictures, Lorenz ... very professional, i would say.

THANKS FOR POSTING THESE PICTURES, IT HAS BEEN A VERY PLESANT WAY TO PASS THE MORNING LOOKING AT THEM. :D IS THIS A PERMANENT EXHIBIT AT THE COLOSSEUM? IF IT IS I WILL MAKE SURE TO SEE IT IF I VISIT ROME. :cool:

The Thracians and Dacians had some very unique weaponry for those times... sica, falx, and rhomphaia... along with the more conventional stuff such as double edged swords and javelins... they, the Celts, the Iberian tribes, and the Numidians and Carthaginians had some pretty cool cultures and weaponry. All conquered (eventually) by Roman legions... but I guess the reason they are known to us now is because they put up such a good fight. Very interestng to see how much of an influence the Greeks had in Mediterranean warfare... Roman formations were often a type of hoptile phalanx (versus the Macedonian kind), until they adopted the Hastatii, Principles, and Triarii formations... which was later supplanted by legionnaires. It's interesting that the empire would later take their fiercest enemies and make them roles in the gladiator fights.

thanks for posting this up! :D

LOOKING THRU THE OTHER PICTURES I FOUND A VERY FUNNY HELMET. IT LOOKED JUST LIKE A COFFEE POT WITH LOTS OF HOLES AND THE SPOUT FORMED THE NOSE, PERHAPS IT WAS THE ORIGINAL POT HEAD :D
ANOTHER FUN ONE APPEARS IN YOUR PICTURE #5 IT IS THE SMALLER HELMET AND IN ONE PICTURE IN THE ALBUM LOOKS LIKE C3PO FROM STAR WARS.

Thanks for all the comments!

Vandoo, you must be referring to this guy. If I recall correctly, the write-up says that the "model" was promptly discontinued, as mobility greatly suffered due to the heavy armor.

Cruppellarius is the name ... reminds one of the French Maginot Line of WW2 (or more aptly, the German's Maus tank).

It was the 2nd to the last day of the exhibit when I went there. Presumably though, they'll take it to another venue.

Here's an article on the exhibit:

Roman Gladiator Costumes and Weapons on Display in Colosseum Exhibition
Submitted by bija on Wed, 04/07/2010

Question: What does a gladiator wear on a night out? The answer, of course, is that he puts on his glad rags! Apologies for the terrible joke, but for those who want to know what a gladiator would really have worn, not on a night out in ancient Rome, but in combat in the arena, then an exhibition inside Rome's Colosseum has opened to show us just that.

The exhibition - Gladiatores - is displaying replica gladiatorial weapons, dress and armour made authentically according to nine years of historical research by Silvano Mattesini, a trained architect and expert in ancient Roman military dress.

Many of the costumes use bright colourful feathers and silk, as well as the more expected leather and metal and they are all inspired by or taken from historical evidence of gladiatorial culture in Italy. The weapons and accessories on display were designed by Silvano Mattesini, who then commissioned professional craftsmen (metalsmiths, tailors, carpenters) to make the pieces.

The 30 objects on display are the results of in-depth research into historical texts by classical writers, as well as evdience from Roman paintings and frescoes, mosaics and graffiti, every-day objects such as statues and vases as well as authentic armour and weapons found at Pompeii.

According to the exhibition's organisers, the contrast between the original ancient objects on display, and the modern replicas, highlights the difference between the originals as we see them now, and how they must have appeared almost 2,000 years ago. Of course the archaeological items have lost much of their colour and brightness – both of which would have been very important in a large amphitheatre such as the Colosseum, where the audience in the higher seats would be able to see only the colours and flashing metal of swords and helmets.

Evidence of gladiatorial combat dates as far back as the fourth century BC to some figurative art in tombs at Paestum.

The first documented gladiatorial spectacle in Rome was in 264 BC when the two sons of Brutus Pera held the event in honour of their (deceased) father. Gladiatorial combat continued to be associated with funerary celebrations until the Augustan age and during the late republican era the combat became more elaborate, with 320 pairs of fighters on display in games given by Julius Caesar in 65 BC. By this time gladiatorial schools had been set up - the ones in Capua and Rome (the Ludus Magnus) were especially well known.

Gladiatorial shows became an important political and electoral tool and the building of amphitheatres – such as Vespasian's 'Flavian amphitheatre' in the 70s AD – consolidated the status of the spectacle.

The educational exhibition - Gladiatores - is curated by Rossella Rea, director of the Colosseum.

Photos by Silvano Mattesini.