Lot 714
A Splendid Little Bronze Figure of a Gladiator. Roman, c. 2nd - early 3rd century AD. The youthful "entertainer" modeled with a lithe, yet muscular body, while his hair is in longish coarse locks, of a style seen in both Antonine and early Severan portraits. His armor consists of scaled mail strapped over one arm and shoulder, a short Thracian sword, leather padding and a broad armored belt at the waist, a single greave and knee padding on one leg, and heavy leather strapping at the ankles. His class of gladiator was known as a retarius. Losses at feet and one arm, otherwise bronze quite pristine, with choice, smooth dark green to black patina. Height: 2-3/4". A truly fine characterization.
Estimated Value $2,500-UP.
The popularity of certain gladiators in Roman times, was in some ways comparable to the adulation we accord sports figures in our times. Yet even back then, while the "sport" satisfied a particular blood lust demanded by the public, gladiators still were never quite respectable. Even as a sort of celebrity, they retained about them an aura of the scandalous and distasteful. Nevertheless, they held considerable fascination with the Roman sporting public. This is evidenced by the number of models and renderings (in a wide variety of media) of most of the types of gladiators that have come down to us. The above example is certainly as fine an example as one will see in the market today. This one, in fact, may well have had a separately fashioned helmet that would have dropped over his head -- rather like the action figures, with separate accessories, that one sees in toy stores today. Again, examples of such are known in bronze and terra cotta.
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