Relief

Relief

Gladiatorial combat involving women

Amazon and Achillia (Two Female Gladiators)

Unknown

British Museum

1st and 2nd Century AD

Sculptor

Public Domain

Physical Medium: Marble
Format: Relief sculpture (raised figures carved from a solid block of marble)

Latin

Subject Matter: historical genre/gladiatorial combat
Art Form: Sculptural Relief

Archaeological context: "A well-preserved marble relief depicting two female gladiators, likely Amazon and Achilia, was discovered in Halicarnassus (modern Bodrum, Turkey) and is now housed in the British Museum."

Art historical context: "Roman funerary art often included depictions of the deceased's profession or hobbies. The marble relief of two female gladiators from the 1st-2nd century AD is a rare example of a künstlerlohnelebensinhalt (artist without life content) depiction, showcasing a subject on the fringes of Roman society."

Social history context: "While written records mention female gladiatorial combat, there's limited visual evidence. The marble relief of two female gladiators offers a glimpse into this lesser-known aspect of Roman entertainment, sparking discussions about the role of women in gladiatorial games."

Temporal: The resource depicts gladiatorial combat, a practice of the Roman Empire (roughly 27 BC to 476 AD).