Media Information

 
 
 
Collection:
ADJUNCT MODULE B: ITALIAN ART
Preferred Title:
Gladiator Mosaic
Image View:
Detail, a gladiator spears a leopard or panther; this type of gladiator was known as a bestiarus
Creator:
unknown (Roman (ancient))
Location:
repository: Galleria Borghese (Rome, Lazio, Italy)
Location Note:
Piazzale Scipione Borghese, 5
GPS:
41.914 12.492
Date:
ca. 320-330 CE (creation)
Cultural Context:
Roman (ancient)
Style Period:
Imperial (Roman)
Work Type 1:
floor (surface element)
Work Type 2:
mosaic (visual work)
Classification:
Decorative Arts, Utilitarian Objects and Interior Design
Material:
colored stone tesserae
Technique:
mosaic (process)
Subjects:
human figure; Gladiators; Roman Empire; combat
Description:
A famous mosaic of gladiators, dated to the first half of the 4th century. It was discovered in 1834 on the Borghese estate at Torrenova, on the Via Casilina outside Rome. The excavation was directed by Luigi Canina. The name of each gladiator depicted is given in inscription next to the figure, with a Ø symbol (possibly the Greek letter Θ, for θάνατος "dead") marking the names of gladiators who died in combat. The inscription is listed in the CIL corpus as CIL VI 10206. A total of 33 names were on the mosaic, some of them now illegible. (Source: Wikipedia; http://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/Main_Page)
Image Description:
The gladiator games often began with venationes (beast hunts) and bestiarii (beast fighters).
Collection:
Adjunct Module B: Italian Art
Identifier:
7A3-R-R-MBS-A07
Rights:
© Scott Gilchrist, Archivision, Inc.

Gladiator Mosaic