York Museums Trust

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An Evening with Gladiators

Watch the film on the big screen, enjoy Roman food and learn about York’s very own gladiators.

Delve into the world of York’s very own gladiators, enjoy an Italian buffet then watch Russell Crowe do battle on the big screen at a special evening of Roman entertainment at the Yorkshire Museum, York.

Curators at the museum will reveal the story of the museum’s own possible gladiator, whose skeleton was found under the Yorkshire Museum during excavation work in 2010.

There will be Roman object handling and a Gladiator trail around the Roman galleries, before an Italian themed buffet is served.

Visitors will then head to the museum’s own cinema to enjoy the 2000 classic, Gladiator, on the big screen.

Natalie McCaul, curator of archaeology, said:

“It is often forgotten that Gladiators lived, fought and died right here in York for hundreds of years during the Roman occupation. There are theories that the amphitheatre in which they would do battle was actually somewhere in the grounds of York Museum Gardens where the museum now stands.

“This one off event will give people the chance to get closer to our Roman collections and also see the skeleton of what could very well be York’s very own gladiator.

“After some fabulous Italian food people can then sit back and enjoy the Hollywood version on the big screen.”

The event is taking place on November 21. Doors are 6:30pm, buffet 6:45pm, film 7:45pm. Tickets cost £15 including the buffet.

To book, call: 01904 687671 or email yorkvenues@ymt.org.uk 

The Roman skeleton was found under the museum in 2010 during building work which was part of its £2 million refurbishment.

Following analysis by experts from York Osteoarchaeology Ltd it was revealed that the skeleton was of a middle aged adult male, aged between 36 and 45 years. He was very tall for a Roman at 179cm and of muscular build.

Lesions in his vertebrae suggest spinal stress, possibly through lifting heavy loads. His arms are well developed and, similar to other gladiators found in York, bear all the hallmarks of repetitive sword training.

The most notable clues on the skeleton are the six blade injuries which, because there are no signs of healing, were delivered at death. These include a cut to the lower vertebrae of the back bone, a slash to a lower right rib and two slashing marks which penetrated the jaw, causing it to fracture.

This shows evidence of a sword slicing through the jaw and then getting stuck, with the attacker then twisting the blade to get it free, breaking the jaw bone in two.

The skull had three blade injuries. One was a superficial wound to the top of the head, literally taking off a piece of his scalp, and a second which cut into the right side of the skull in two places.

A third, probably the fatal blow, was a powerful stab wound to the back of the head. It appears that the perpetrator/s attacked this man from the right side. The wounds are typical of someone involved in armed combat, possibly gladiatorial combat, with numerous blows inflicted before he was finally killed.

The skeleton was not found in a position associated with organised Roman burial but with animal bones and broken pottery. It was found in an area which has for a long time puzzled archaeologists as it is in close proximity to the Roman Fortress, on what was a very flat expanse of ground.

Because it is also a key medieval site, the precinct of St Mary’s Abbey, excavation has been limited so the Museum Gardens remains one of the few untouched areas in the city that may have been large enough to house the amphitheatre.