Gladiators fought in Cheshire

[Primus Pilus]

Gladiatorial games, the bloodiest of ancient Rome's traditions, were probably held in the heart of genteel Cheshire, archaeologists say. Experts have unearthed evidence in the remains of Chester Amphitheatre which suggests gladiators appeared there. It was previously thought the arena was only used for ceremonial activities. But archaeologists have found a stone block with iron fastening, suggesting that victims - human or animal - were chained up for gladiatorial spectacles.

 

BBC

[Ludovicus]

http://emmm.co.uk/amphitheatre/

 

Above you'll find the Chester Conference on Roman Amphitheatres website.

[Pertinax]

Here is one of that Gladiatorial Stable on tour last year:

http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...=si&img=921

[DecimusCaesar]

Interesting news! It got quite a big coverage in the media a while ago too, I read about it in the local paper a few days back.

[caldrail]

A similar stone block is depicted on a mosaic at the Bignor Villa, in west sussex. At first glance it seems another example of outright cruelty in that entrants to the arena are chained in place. With regard to those people condemned to the beasts I imagine this was very much the case, but even professional gladiators were probably chained too. This would be keep the action in the center of the ring and so everyone could see what was going on.

 

So far I haven't seen any example of these blocks outside britain which makes me wonder if its a romano-british phenomenon?