Shaped like a gladiator: Rare 2,000-year-old Roman knife handle discovered in England

English Heritage announced the discovery of a rare 2,000-year-old Roman knife handle sculpted in the shape of a gladiator, unearthed from the River Tyne near Corbridge. The intricately carved copper alloy handle depicts a muscular secutor gladiator, known for close-quarters combat, and sheds light on the widespread popularity of gladiators even in remote regions like Hadrian's Wall.

The finding was reported by The Guardian, BBC News, and Express.co.uk, among others. 

The knife handle was found several years ago by diver Bob Middlemass and his late diving partner in the River Tyne near Corbridge Roman Town, an ancient military base and colony occupied by the Romans between 79 and 400 AD. Only recently did Middlemass make English Heritage aware of the find. The organization described the knife handle as a "significant find" and plans to display it, along with other artifacts from the River Tyne, at Corbridge Roman Town in 2025.

The gladiator is depicted as left-handed, a detail that historians believe would have been considered unlucky in ancient Rome. English Heritage suggests this could indicate the figurine represents a specific gladiator who may have gained fame for his left-handed fighting style. Dr. Frances McIntosh, English Heritage's collections curator for Hadrian’s Wall and the North East (UK), stated, "it could mean that it's a very specific, actual, real gladiator that this knife handle is portraying." Dr. McIntosh added that successful gladiators became celebrities and had sex appeal, with cases of high-status Roman women falling "in love" with these lowly fighters, despite the vast social difference.

The secutor gladiator was heavily armed and specialized in close combat, often pitted against the more agile retiarius, who wielded a net and trident. 

The discovery offers new proof that the superstar status of gladiators—who were usually slaves, prisoners of war, or condemned criminals—extended to the far reaches of the Roman Empire. English Heritage said, "it provides new proof that gladiators’ celebrity status extended to the very edge of the Roman empire," emphasizing their widespread acclaim. 

Gladiatorial games were one of the most popular forms of entertainment in antiquity, an integral part of cultural life in ancient Rome, taking place across the Roman Empire. Most gladiators, despite their low social status, sometimes became celebrities while being enslaved, inspiring the creation of sporting memorabilia such as decorated ceramics, glass cups, lamps, and figurines. 

Hadrian's Wall, built between 122 and 128 AD on the orders of Emperor Hadrian, was designed to defend against the Picts and protect the northern limits of the empire. The wall was a 73-mile fortification representing the ingenuity and determination of the Roman Empire to protect its borders. Corbridge is situated along Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland, half a mile west of modern-day Corbridge, marking the boundary between Roman Britain and what was then the unconquered Caledonia (now Scotland).

English Heritage plans to display the rare knife handle, along with other finds from the River Tyne, at Corbridge Roman Town in 2025. The collection will include other notable artifacts such as slave shackles, a copper alloy belt buckle, a phallic stud, a panther figurine, and small bits of gold jewellery. The exhibition will allow visitors to discover this unique artifact as well as other objects unearthed in the area to better understand the daily life of Romans settled in Great Britain.

"It is rare to find a piece of gladiator memorabilia in Britain," Dr. McIntosh stated. "To find such a well-preserved and interesting piece is particularly remarkable." The knife handle has never been put on display before since its discovery in the 1990s.

The announcement of the knife handle's discovery coincides with the release of "Gladiator II," directed by Sir Ridley Scott, which has received largely positive reviews from critics, though some Roman history experts question its accuracy. "Even now, almost two thousand years later, the fascination around gladiators persists. Anything that kind of puts the past in the public eye and makes them think that it could be really exciting, could only be good for heritage sites," Dr. McIntosh commented.

The discovery of the knife handle not only provides insight into the popularity of gladiators but also underscores the extensive reach of Roman culture. The artifact exemplifies how the fascination with gladiatorial combat permeated even the most remote areas of the empire, highlighting the cultural significance of these spectacles in ancient society.

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq