'Gladiators Of Britain' Exhibition Opens At Dorset County Museum

DORCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 24: The Colchester Vase, a ceramic cremation vessel decorated with a gladiator fight between a secutor and retiarius, is displayed at the 'Gladiators Of Britain' exhibition at Dorset County Museum, on January 24, 2025 in Dorchester, England. The exhibition, a British Museum Partnership Exhibition with Colchester and Ipswich museums, showcases remarkable artefacts, including the iconic Colchester Vase, which vividly depicts a real gladiatorial battle, and the Hawkedon Helmet, the only confirmed gladiatorial armour from Roman Britain. These extraordinary objects, alongside other key finds, shed light on the violent spectacles that captivated audiences and the vital role gladiators played in Roman society. Starting at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery from January 2025, the exhibition will travel to four venues around the UK, following in the footsteps of the gladiators who fought in the amphitheatres of Britain. (Photo by Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images)