28 August 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

The Colchester Vase: New Analyses Uncover Evidence of Gladiatorial Combat in Roman Britannia

The Colchester Vase, dating back to A.D. 160–200, is not just a ceramic artifact; it is considered a unique graphic and epigraphic testimony to the existence of gladiatorial combats in the Roman city of Camulodunum, now known as Colchester, illuminating the cultural and social dynamics of these games.

A new study led by Glynn J.C. Davis and John Pearce, in collaboration with experts in archaeology, epigraphy, and isotopic analysis, reveals that the Colchester Vase is more than just a decorative artifact; it is suggested to be a commissioned piece that documents a real combat event that took place in the city.

Recent discoveries surrounding the Colchester Vase have revealed its significance as a vital record of gladiatorial games in Roman Britain, showcasing the intricate connections between local culture, military influence, and the performers who captivated audiences of the time.

The vase, crafted in the kilns west of Colchester, features intricate decorations and inscriptions that name individual arena performers, suggesting it was a commissioned piece celebrating a local event.

Among the names that have intrigued researchers is Memnon, identified as a secutor—a type of gladiator known for battling against retiarii, who wielded nets and tridents. The name Memnon, derived from Greek mythology, evokes the legendary Ethiopian king associated with the Trojan War, hinting that it may have served as a stage name, a common practice among gladiators to enhance their personas in the arena. The inscription reveals that Memnon participated in at least nine combats, suggesting he had a notable career within the competitive world of Roman entertainment, where success was often measured by the number of fights fought and victories achieved.

The inscription below the rim of the Colchester Vase. Credit: D. Atfield / Colchester Museums
The inscription below the rim of the Colchester Vase. Credit: D. Atfield / Colchester Museums

Another noteworthy name in the inscription is Valentinus, linked to the Legio XXX Ulpia Victrix, which was stationed in Xanten, modern-day Germany. This connection raises intriguing questions about the relationship between gladiators and the Roman military, a topic that has sparked considerable debate among historians. Some scholars propose that certain legions may have maintained their own groups of gladiators for entertainment purposes. The absence of recorded combats for Valentinus in the inscription may indicate that he was a tiro, or novice gladiator, embarking on his journey in the arena, where the path to fame and glory often began with a single fight.

Recent research has challenged previous assumptions about the vase’s inscription, revealing that it was likely cut before the vessel was fired, rather than afterward as previously believed. This finding is supported by the quality of the lettering and the absence of ragged edges, suggesting a skilled artisan was involved in its creation.

The Colchester Vase was ultimately used as a cremation urn, containing the remains of a non-local male over 40 years old. While it is unlikely that he was one of the performers, his connection to the event adds another layer of significance to the artifact.

The Colchester Vase contributes to a growing body of evidence that highlights the existence of Roman spectacles in the city. Among these findings are fragments of wall paintings featuring gladiators, molds for creating relief figures, and a knife with a handle designed in the likeness of a murmillo, another class of gladiator.

While no amphitheater has yet been discovered in Colchester, the existence of a Roman circus—the only one documented in Britannia—bolsters the idea that the city served as a hub for public entertainment, where chariot races and gladiatorial contests were integral to the local culture.

The Colchester Vase inscription. Detail of the word VALENTINV. Credit: D. Atfield / Colchester Museums
The Colchester Vase inscription. Detail of the word VALENTINV. Credit: D. Atfield / Colchester Museums

Furthermore, the commercial and military ties between Colchester and the Lower Rhine region likely played a crucial role in the movement of gladiators and animals for these events. Epigraphic evidence from the Germanic territories indicates the capture of bears for venationes, or wild animal combats, which may provide context for the hunting scene illustrated on the Colchester Vase.

The Colchester Vase was discovered in 1853 during excavations in the western cemetery area of Colchester, England. It was found as part of a burial group consisting of four vessels. The vase’s intricate decorations and inscriptions quickly attracted attention, leading to its recognition as a significant artifact that provides valuable insights into the cultural practices of Roman Britain, particularly regarding gladiatorial games and public entertainment.

This discovery is part of Colchester Museums’ ongoing “Decoding the Dead” project, which aims to explore the cultural and social dynamics of gladiatorial games in the north-west 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. Britannia55, 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

Related Articles

Archaeologists find evidence of how Iron Age Britons adapted to the Roman conquest in Winterborne Kingston

29 June 2024

29 June 2024

Archaeologists from Bournemouth University (BU) have discovered human remains and artifacts which give new insight into how early Britons adapted...

Parts of the City of the old city of Ghadames called the pearl of the desert collapsed due to rainfall

28 January 2022

28 January 2022

Some parts of the Old City of Ghadames, located in an oasis about 600km southwest of Tripoli near Libya’s border...

10,000-year-old Sculptures and Figurines holding Phallus of the Taş Tepeler in the southeast Turkey

17 June 2022

17 June 2022

One of the common features of male depictions with similar features found in the region called Taş Tepeler (Stone Hills),...

Turkish researchers use Artificial Intelligence to read cuneatic Hittite tablets

9 January 2023

9 January 2023

Thanks to a project implemented in Türkiye, 1,954 ancient Hittite tablets are being read for the first time using artificial...

46 Eagles in vivid color revealed on Ancient Egyptian temple ceiling

15 May 2022

15 May 2022

A joint German/Egyptian archaeological mission at the Temple of Esna on the west bank of the Nile, 35 miles south...

5,000 years old Mother Goddess statuette unearthed in Yeşilova Mound

25 October 2023

25 October 2023

A Mother Goddess statuette, determined to be 5 thousand years old, was found during the excavations carried out in the...

‘Remarkable Archaeological Find’ Metal detectorist unearths Roman cavalry swords in North Cotswolds

18 September 2023

18 September 2023

Authorities announced Monday that two incredibly rare Roman cavalry swords were uncovered in the Cotswolds, England, during a metal detectorist...

A 13th-Century Italian Fresco Reveals the Medieval Church’s Use of Islamic Altar Tents

3 February 2025

3 February 2025

A recently rediscovered 13th-century fresco in Ferrara, Italy, offers significant insights into the medieval practice of utilizing Islamic tents to...

Archaeologists discovered 130 dwellings around the Ringheiligtum Pömmelte monument “German Stonehenge”

15 June 2021

15 June 2021

Archaeologists have unearthed 130 dwellings at an Early Bronze Age monument in Germany, indicating that the ‘Stonehenge’ was once home...

Researchers decipher enigmatic ancient ‘Unknown Kushan Script’

13 July 2023

13 July 2023

A research team at the University of Cologne’s Department of Linguistics deciphered a writing system belonging to the Kushan Empire,...

Bronze Age artifacts discovered near the residence of ‘Iran’s Napoleon’

6 July 2021

6 July 2021

Archaeologists in Iran have discovered a plethora of artifacts and damaged structures near a former residence of Nader Shah, dubbed...

4,500-Year-Old Harappan Settlement Unearthed in Rajasthan’s Thar Desert

31 July 2025

31 July 2025

Archaeologists uncover the first-ever Harappan site in Rajasthan’s Thar Desert near the Pakistan border, expanding the known geographical reach of...

Archaeologists deciphered the Sabaean inscription on a clay jar finds link between King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba

3 April 2023

3 April 2023

Archaeologists deciphered a partially preserved inscription that was found on the neck of a large jar dated back to the...

Excavations show the Temple of Poseidon at Samikon is more Monumental than Previously Assumed -New Discoveries

3 November 2024

3 November 2024

New excavations by archaeologists from the Austrian Academy of Sciences and the Greek Ministry of Culture in Kleidi-Samikon in the...

An extraordinary archaeological discovery in Spain: A new decorated stela has been found in context, in the 3000-year-old funerary complex

15 October 2023

15 October 2023 2

Archaeologists have discovered a new decorated stela in the 3000-year-old burial complex of Las Capellanías in Cañaveral de León (Huelva,...