The Female Gladiator

Join Charlotte Bell to explore a mythological representation of gladiatrix – the female gladiator. Learn about their significance, their active role in the gory arena and what light they shed on interpretations of gender in the Roman Empire.

Ancient depictions of gladiators are common in Roman art, from the elaborate mosaics of the Galleria Borghese to charcoal graffiti drawn by children at Pompeii. A much rarer depiction, however, can be found in a figurative marble relief and inscription discovered at the ancient city of Halicarnassus (modern-day Türkiye). It displays two gladiators with mythological names facing off against one another - but these gladiators are female.

In this lecture, doctoral candidate Charlotte Bell will uncover the evidence for female gladiators in the Roman Empire, bringing to light an unexpected and often overlooked historical phenomenon. She uses leading archaeological research to explore the mythological representation of the gladiatrix and considers the role they played in portraying female identity as a form of entertainment in the ‘male’ dominated arena of the Roman Empire.

Come along to learn about the significance of female gladiators, their active role in the gory arena, and interpretations of gender in the Roman Empire.