Relief with Gladiators, ca. 2nd century , Marble, × × cm (48 1/4 × 31 9/16 × 2 7/16 in.), Gladiatorial games originated as funerary rites in which the deceased was celebrated through physical competitions. For this reason, relief depictions of gladiatorial combat were sometimes used as grave markers—probably not for gladiators themselves, but for those whose lives such games may have commemorated. The games were particularly popular during the Roman Empire; in fact, most of the known funerary depictions of gladiators are Imperial in date.

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Size: 3359px × 4992px
Location:
Photo credit: © Artokoloro / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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