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Roman Terracotta Lamp with Fighting Gladiators Roman Terracotta Lamp with Fighting Gladiators Roman Terracotta Lamp with Fighting Gladiators Roman Terracotta Lamp with Fighting Gladiators Roman Terracotta Lamp with Fighting Gladiators Roman Terracotta Lamp with Fighting Gladiators
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Details

LOT 0871

Roman Terracotta Lamp with Fighting Gladiators

1ST-2ND CENTURY A.D.

4 7/8 in (84 grams, 12.4 cm).

Composed of a discoid body with sunken discus bearing a scene of two gladiators in combat in relief, tabula ansata below, ring handle and roughly D-shaped nozzle with volutes; old crack to base.

Provenance

From a German collection.
Ex Cambridge, UK, collection, 1980s.

Literature

Cf. Gilbert, F., Devenir Gladiateur, la vie quotidienne á l'ecole de la mort, La Capelle-Marival, 2013, pp.30-31, for similar lucernae.

Footnotes

The two gladiators seem to be wearing the armaturae of murmillones. All gladiators began their career as provocatores; the learning of their combat technique was polyvalent and allowed the fighters to specialise as a large shield-bearer (the scutati) like murmillones, or as a small shield-bearer, parmati, like the oplomachus.

CONDITION
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LOT 0871

Roman Terracotta Lamp with Fighting Gladiators

Estimate £500 - 700€580 - 810 (for guidance only)$680 - 950 (for guidance only)

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