Gladiators of Britain at the British Museum
Explore the history of gladiators and their famous fights in the UK with an event at the British Museum. The events within the amphitheater, including wild beasts and enslaved fights, are among the most well known and fascinating aspects of Ancient Roman culture. They are continuing to capture the public’s imagination even to this day, so many years later.
Gladiators of Britain will open on, 25th January, 2025 and continue until, 19th April, 2025.
This exhibition will bring together some of the most important artifacts from the country to tell the story of gladiators in the UK, Britain’s entertainment venues of the day, and the people who died amidst a roaring crowd baying for blood. The violence of the gladiator arena will be on full display along with the value of the spectacle to Roman culture.
Highlights will include the Colchester Vase loaned by the Colchester Museum. It records genuine battles between two real gladiators. The Hawkedon Helmet meanwhile is the one and only confirmed piece of gladiatorial armour from Roman Britan. These iconic items will be supported by a selection of other items that will highlight the popularity of gladiators in all of Roman society.
The tour will be in partnership with Colchester and Ipswich Museums and is inspired by a recent exhibition at Colchester Castle, Gladiators: A Day at the Roman Games which itself had items loaned from the British Museum. It will examine the popular Roman spectacle in the local region of every venue, allowing visitors to follow in the footsteps of the brave gladiators who fought in Britain’s amphitheatre under Roman rule.
If you can’t wait until January, there are plenty of other touring exhibitions at the museum that you can visit today. Or for other tours around London, visit this page for a list of some of the top guided tours in museums all over the capital.
