BRITISH MUSEUM’S GLADIATOR EXHIBITION

Step into the arena where gladiators once fought and died to thunderous crowds.

This major touring exhibition from the British Museum, in partnership with Colchester and Ipswich Museums, brings together rare Roman artefacts that reveal the brutal spectacle of gladiatorial combat in ancient Britain – including extraordinary finds from Chester’s own amphitheatre, the largest in the country.

Discover the altar dedicated to Nemesis, goddess of fate, erected by a Roman centurion after a mysterious vision. Witness ancient battles through a Samian bowl depicting gladiators in combat, found in the very arena where such battles took place. Read the graffiti of “Serano Locus” – a Roman spectator’s claim to his favourite seat, carved into stone nearly 2,000 years ago. These aren’t just museum pieces; they’re intimate glimpses into the lives of real people who witnessed the blood and spectacle that defined Roman entertainment.

From the enslaved fighters who became unlikely celebrities to the vendors selling food to eager crowds, Gladiators of Britain reveals the human stories behind the helmets. Walk in the footsteps of gladiators, spectators and citizens who made Chester’s amphitheatre come alive with the roar of the crowd and clash of steel.