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Two Left-Handed Gladiators in Britain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 November 2008

Tony Wilmott
Affiliation:
Three Gables, 21 Castle Street, Portchester, Fareham PO16 9PU, UK. E-mail: .

Abstract

Two of the most frequently reproduced images of gladiatorial combat from Britain are a slate relief of a retiarius from Chester and the famous Colchester vase, a barbotine decorated cup adorned with arena scenes. Despite the familiarity of these images, an important fact seems to have been generally overlooked: the objects appear to show gladiators who are left-handed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 2007

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References

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