Bronze Statuette of a Murmillo Gladiator

Culture: Roman

Period: 1st-2nd century A.D.

Material: Roman

Dimensions: 7.6 cm high

Price: 9 000 Euro

Ref: 3614

Provenance: From the estate of the New York art dealer Edward H. Merrin, acquired in the 1990s from Royal Athena Gallery in New York.

Condition: Gladius missing, otherwise an exceedingly fine gladiator statuette with numerous details.

Description: Solid bronze statuette of a murmillo. The gladiator wears a cassis crista, the full helmet with an extremely high crest decoration, broad rim and grill face visor. Around the belly the apron is tied with a broad belt. In his left hand he holds the rectangular, large shield of a Roman legionnaire (scutum). The right arm, including the hand, is protected by a thick, cross corrugated manica. Below the left knee he wears the ocrea (shin guard) for protection of the front leg. In the right hand the figure once held the today missing, separately worked out gladius. The name murmillo derives from "murma", a sea fish, which was caught with nets. The murmillo was originally used primarily against a gladiator with a net, the retiarius. Mounted.