Description of Monument

A small white marble stele (0.42 x 0.35 x 0.16) with a triangular pediment above, broken away, and a recessed central panel; The relief is of a facing gladiator with a loin guard and greaves. In his right hand he holds a palm, and the left rests on a shield, which has a helmet above it.

Description of Text

. Inscribed in the central panel, below the relief

Letters

irregular, with lunate epsilon, sigma, omega, and cursive alpha.

Date

First to fourth centuries A.D. (content)

Edition Τροφίμη Εἰρηνίῳ νι ἐσσεδαρίῳ μνείας χάριν

Translation

Trophime (put up this monument) to ?Eirenion, essedarius, in memory.

Commentary

This is clearly an epitaph, in the form described by Robert as 'the gladiator in his glory' ( Gladiateurs, 47-9); the gladiator is presented holding a palm, with his helmet and shield beside him, as in very similar reliefs illustrated by Robert (Gladiateurs, 301, pl. xx; 119, pl. xxiii).

Trophime, who put up this epitaph, was presumably the wife of the man commemorated (for many other examples of such epitaphs see Gladiateurs, 43-4, with another Trophime, 227 no. 292). The essedarius fought from a chariot (Lafaye, 'Gladiator', 1588, no.8).

Locations

Theatre Baths excavation Unknown Museum

Text Constituted From

Transcriptions (Reynolds, Roueché)

History of Recording

Recorded by the NYU expedition in 1974 (excavation inventory no. 74.227).

Bibliography

Published by Roueché, PPA 43

Photographs

Face (1978)