Gladiators of Britain
A British Museum Partnership Exhibition with Colchester + Ipswich Museums will delve into the lesser-known history of gladiatorial contests in Roman Britain. Launching at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery in January 2025, the exhibition will tour four UK venues, tracing the footsteps of gladiators who once fought in Britain’s amphitheatres.
The exhibition showcases iconic objects like the Colchester Vase, depicting a real gladiatorial battle, and the Hawkedon Helmet, the only confirmed gladiatorial armour from Roman Britain. These artefacts, along with others, reveal the violent spectacles that entertained the public and underscore the significance of gladiators in Roman culture.
The exhibition will feature finds from Maumbury Rings in Dorchester, a unique site originally a Neolithic henge that was transformed into a Roman amphitheatre nearly 2,000 years ago. This adaptation reflects the cultural imprint of the Romans on Britain and offers a tangible connection to the era’s gladiatorial contests.
25 January to 11 May 2025
Special Exhibitions
FREE as part of Museum entry
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Date: Sat, 25th January 2025 - Sun, 11th May 2025
Time: 10:00am - 5:00pm
Location: Dorset Museum
Booking Required: No
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Location
Dorset Museum (View more Events at this Location)High West Street , Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1XA United Kingdom
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