Archaeologists in England have discovered a rare 2,000-year-old handle of a Roman knife shaped like a gladiator. The artifact, crafted from a copper alloy, depicts a fighter wearing a helmet and holding a shield. Researchers identified the figure as a secutor, a type of gladiator known for their heavy armor and close combat style against retiarii, who used nets and tridents.
Interestingly, the gladiator is believed to have been left-handed. In ancient Rome, left-handed fighters were often viewed as unlucky, although some were trained to use their left hand to gain an advantage in combat. This figurine may represent a specific individual rather than an abstract warrior.
The artifact was found in a river in Corbridge, an area that housed a Roman settlement established in 79 AD and utilized until the Romans departed Britain. Nearby, the Hadrian's Wall, a defensive fortification built between 122 and 128 AD, provided additional historical context.
Gladiatorial games were among the most popular spectacles in ancient Rome, with participants typically being slaves or condemned criminals. These games were held throughout the empire from 105 BC until 404 AD, as reported by Live Science.
In a related finding, British archaeologists recently uncovered a hidden tomb beneath the city of Petra in Jordan, along with a cup reminiscent of the Indiana Jones films, and twelve human skeletons.