| Date | ca. 40–20 B.C. |
|---|---|
| Object type | relief |
| Medium, technique | carved, marble (Luna) |
| Dimensions | 57.2 × 63.2 cm |
| Inventory number | 4820 |
| Collection | Classical Antiquities |
| On view | Museum of Fine Arts, Basement Floor, Classical Antiquity, Eros – Dionysos – Thanatos |
The relief is part of a larger composition. It depicts two figures. The man to the front, in a tunic, holds a staff which indicates his office: he is the referee (summa rudis, ʻchief staff’). The other man is a gladiator in a broad-brimmed helmet and scale armour, holding a round shield and a sword. Gladiators were distinguished by their equipment and mode of fighting. The fighter represented here is a ʻknight’ (eques) who started the battle on horseback, then continued on foot. His opponent was also a knight; the games opened with their duel.
Marble analyses have shown that the relief was made of Luna (Carrara) marble.
This record is subject to revision due to ongoing research.
