Drawing of a gladiator

((:gladiator ad dext., secutor))


Description of Drawing (English): gladiator facing right, secutor
Findspot: Smyrna, Basilica (Agora.1)
Drawing Category: Gladiators
Writing Style: charcoal
  • Graffito Height: 18
  • Graffito Length: 9
Bibliography: Bagnall, R. S. et al., Graffiti from the Basilica in the Agora of Smyrna (2016): 261.
Commentary: Dipinto, largely faded, located on the eastern face of Pier A37, looking into the doorway, Bay 26. It is composed of thin black lines with a few highlights in red. The image depicts a male figure, a gladiator, in profile and advancing toward the right. The upper part of the body is better preserved, whereas most of the detailing of the legs has vanished. The man wears a helmet with long neck-guard and a balteus. The way his bust is depicted seems to suggest the presence of a long coat of scale armor, an element distinctive of images of secutores in later representations from the Eastern empire.
Suggested Citation: AGP-SMYD00261, The Ancient Graffiti Project, <http://ancientgraffiti.org/Graffiti/graffito/AGP-SMYD00261> [accessed: 29 Mar 2024]
Contributions:

Editor: Roger S. Bagnall

Principal Contributor: Roger S. Bagnall

Last Revision: 2016-10-03