I won’t profess to be a fan of gladiators, fighting, or violent, death-inducing sports of any kind; I certainly am not. But knowing that the strong, muscular body of a female gladiator has been found is somehow cool to me.
The woman, said to be “massive and muscular,” was discovered buried in Herefordshire, Britain, in a coffin made of wood, iron, and brass. This burial case is considered to be an elaborate one, reserved for someone important or who was honored. Researchers thought immediately that she was a man, since she was so big and strong—until they examined her head and pelvis, which prove that she was likely female.
Archeologists are still excavating the area, and don’t know much more about the warrior.
I know, of course, that it shouldn’t be, since not only was the “sport” a violent way to control the masses, resulted in a gory death for both people and animals, and was largely made up of slaves. But there is also the chance that, like some of her male counterparts, this woman chose her role for honor and glory; in fact, her body suggests that this may have been the case.
It’s like the concept of knights and soldiers, I suppose. As a pacifist, I don’t support violence—especially in the name of religion—but somehow when you hear about female knights and soldiers in history, a form of romanticism develops. You know they had it harder. You know they were probably attacked sexually, and if not they were still likely ridiculed if discovered. Is my fascination a double standard? Yeah, I think it is. Is the depiction of a woman in the traditional role of a man, no matter the role, always positive? I’d say no, not always, even in this case. Still, it remains to be, at least to me, a fascinating discovery. I have to wonder at her life, how she became a gladiator, and yes, how she did in combat. Did she have a family, children? Where was she from? Her physique and burial suggest that perhaps she was well-trained and well-fought, her body both developed and honored as a gladiator. I do look forward to hearing more about this discovery, despite my disapproval of Rome’s use of blood and violence for sport.