Archaeologists in England have uncovered a rare Roman knife handle, crafted 2,000 years ago in the shape of a gladiator. This discovery highlights that the legendary status of these iconic fighters extended even to the far reaches of the Roman Empire.
The handle, crafted from copper alloy, portrays a gladiator equipped with a helmet and shield, representing a secutor—a heavily armored gladiator class. Named from Latin for “chaser” or “pursuer,” secutores were specialists in close-quarters combat, often matched against the nimble retiarius gladiators who wielded a net and trident.
Upon closer inspection, experts found the gladiator figurine is left-handed. Left-handed gladiators were typically seen as unlucky, though some were trained specifically to fight this way, giving them a tactical edge. According to English Heritage, a charity that manages historic sites across England, the left-handed detail in this case might suggest that the figurine depicts a specific gladiator rather than a generalized symbol of these fighters.
In ancient Rome, gladiatorial games ranked among the most popular forms of public entertainment. These brutal spectacles featured gladiators, often enslaved individuals or condemned criminals, who fought in combat that sometimes ended in death. Organized by the Roman elite, including emperors, these events showcased wealth, marked special occasions, and captivated the masses. While the Colosseum in Rome remains the most iconic venue for these games, gladiatorial contests were held across the Roman Empire, officially spanning from 105 B.C. to A.D. 404.
“Despite being enslaved and socially outcast due to their profession, gladiators could become huge celebrities,” Frances McIntosh, English Heritage’s Collections Curator for Hadrian’s Wall and the North East, said in the statement.
The knife handle is unmistakably a Roman gladiator souvenir, according to the statement. While gladiator-themed memorabilia—such as ceramics, cups, lamps, and figurines—is well documented, discoveries like this are rare in Britain. This find underscores the widespread fascination with gladiators throughout the Roman Empire.
“Even now, almost two thousand years later, the fascination around gladiators persists and has expanded even further into modern popular culture, as evidenced by the excitement surrounding the new Gladiator film sequel,” McIntosh added.
The handle was found in a river at Corbridge, a Roman settlement and supply base known as Corstopitum, located along Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland, about half a mile (0.8 kilometers) west of modern-day Corbridge. This Roman settlement dates back to A.D. 79 and remained inhabited until around A.D. 400, when the Romans withdrew from Britain.
English Heritage plans to showcase this rare knife handle, along with other finds from the river, at Corbridge Roman Town, a preserved archaeological site, in an exhibition next year.
