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Most of the coloured original sources I've seen seem to show gladiators in plain white clothing, is this the accepted norm or is there perhaps some I haven't seen.
The shields seem to use fairly dull colours too(One of them is white the rest I've seen are just a bit dark with some highlights), anyone seen anything brighter anywhere?
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One of the most detailed depiction of Gladiator Subligaculi and Scuti is the Villa Zliten Mosaic from Lybia:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/40060535@N ... 094273344/
Also the Borghese Mosaic shows Gladiators in "full color":
http://www.flickr.com/photos/40060535@N ... 969540491/
White Sublicali seem to be common but not manditory.
Other mosaics confirm this trend:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/40060535@N ... 918615776/
Shield designs could have been quite colorfull though as you see.
The white Sublicauli could have been favored because Gladiature was a very conservative and traditional institution.
Olaf Küppers - Histotainment, Event und Promotion - Germany
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Thanks for that, I have seen most of those but reminders are always useful.
I'll go with the idea of colourful shields quite happily but was initially surprised to observe pretty much all gladiators in white or off white clothing (except venators interestingly).
