The Colchester Vase Confirms the Existence of Gladiatorial Combat in Roman Britain

The Colchester Vase, dating from 160 to 200 AD, is a unique artifact that provides striking evidence of the existence of gladiatorial games in Camulodunum (modern-day Colchester), Roman Britain. Recent research has revealed that this ceramic piece is not merely a decorative object but a commissioned work documenting a local gladiatorial event.

The remarkable inscriptions on the vase feature the names of gladiators such as Memnon and Valentinus. Memnon is identified as a secutor gladiator, bearing a name inspired by Greek mythology, and is noted to have participated in at least nine fights. This indicates that he had a significant career in the Roman entertainment world. Valentinus, on the other hand, is associated with Legio XXX Ulpia Victrix based in Xanten, Germany, and likely stepped into the arena as a tiro (novice gladiator). This raises intriguing questions about the relationship between gladiators and the Roman army.

Recent studies have shown that the inscriptions on the vase were carved before firing, rather than after, as previously thought. This finding is supported by the quality of the inscriptions and their smooth edges, indicating the work of a skilled craftsman.

The Colchester Vase was used as a cremation vessel containing the ashes of a non-local male over the age of 40. While it is unlikely that this individual was one of the gladiators, their connection to the event enhances the significance of the artifact.

Other finds in Colchester, such as wall paintings depicting gladiators, relief figure molds, and a murmillo-style knife handle, support the existence of Roman spectacles in the town. Although an amphitheater in Colchester has yet to be discovered, the presence of the only documented Roman circus in Britannia indicates that the town was a center for public entertainment, including chariot races and gladiatorial contests.

The commercial and military links between Colchester and the Lower Rhine region may have played a significant role in the transportation of gladiators and animals for these events. Epigraphic evidence from German territories suggests that bears were captured for venationes (wild beast hunts), which could provide context for the hunting scene depicted on the Colchester Vase.

Discovered during excavations in 1853 in the western cemetery area of Colchester, the Colchester Vase is regarded as an important artifact that offers valuable insights into the cultural practices of Roman Britain, particularly gladiatorial games and public entertainment. This discovery is part of the “Unraveling the Dead” project by Colchester Museums, aimed at exploring the cultural and social dynamics of gladiatorial games in the northwestern provinces of the Roman Empire.

Davis, G. J. C., Pearce, J., Carroll, E., Moore, J., Nowell, G., & Montgomery, J. (2024). Gladiators at Roman Colchester: Re-Interpreting the Colchester Vase. Britannia, 55, 3–24. doi:10.1017/S0068113X24000187

Cover Image Credit: The Colchester Vase burial group, including mortarium lid, dish and flagon. Credit: D. Atfield / Colchester Museums