RomanArmyTalk

I was lucky enough to see this on a recent trip to Tunisia, and thought those of you interested in Gladiators might lik to see it.

Very nice indeed. Laudes for you :wink:

Thank you very much.

I assume they are all Bestiarii, but some of them are equiped much like the retiarius.

The one that captures my attention is Bullarius, seems to me that he has a manica and chest armor like the provocator. And on the hand of the manica it seems he has a hold of something, or are they like spikes coming out of the manica (or just two scratches on the painting)???

Can anyone translate what the painting says?

This mosaic was widely discussed in a paper by Dr. David Bomgardner at the Chester Amphitheater Conference from which I just returned yesterday.

The conclusion was that this mosaic comemorates venationes held at a munus in most likely the amphitheater of Leptiminus which is the closest to the villa of Magerius in Smirat. He had paid for the munus and was at least comemorating the venationes in that relief. Prof. Kathleen Coleman said in her public opening lecture that a reason for all leopards having a name was that people could bet on them. Therefore both Coleman and Bomgardner agree that this mosaic does not depict a hunting seen where animals where hunted to be brought to amphitheaters but a venatio held at an amphitheater.

BTW the men are venatores (the beast hunters) while a bestiarius would be just someone who handles the beast, drives them into the arena etc. Unfortunately neither Coleman nor Bomgardner made any reference to the armor of the venatores (but there was no time to include that also in any of their talks).

Medusa,

These are all definitely Leopards then

The one that really caught my eye was Spittara who seems to be fighting on stilts?

I take it my caption for the post is incorrect then when I refer to these men as "Gladiators", or are Venatores a sub-division of Gladiators?

Quote:BTW the men are venatores (the beast hunters) while a bestiarius would be just someone who handles the beast, drives them into the arena etc. Unfortunately neither Coleman nor Bomgardner made any reference to the armor of the venatores (but there was no time to include that also in any of their talks).

But gladiators who fought beasts were also called bestiarii, at least I think it says so in the Satyricon.

Quote:The one that captures my attention is Bullarius, seems to me that he has a manica and chest armor like the provocator. And on the hand of the manica it seems he has a hold of something, or are they like spikes coming out of the manica (or just two scratches on the painting)???

This is the section of the manica, which covers the back of the hand, dangling down, with the two ties hanging down. His hand is on the spear shaft.

Quote:This is the section of the manica, which covers the back of the hand, dangling down, with the two ties hanging down. His hand is on the spear shaft.

Now that mention it, yes that seems much more likely. But still he seems to have an elaborated chest armor. And the tip of his spear is strange.

Also Mageri seems strange hock: cant understand what it is behind his back and whats that blueish thing (sort like a lightning perhaps).

Nuno,

Here is a close up of the Mageri - hope it helps

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t15/sullafelix/1.jpg

Medusa,

I think you may like this one, also from Tunisia:

Behind Mageri's back seems to be an elaborately floating cape. And it looks like he's holding an armload of victory palms. Were venatores awarded palms like gladiatores?

@John: The figure you refer to as Magerius is indeed a goddess, i. e. Diana the hunting goddess carrying a leaf of millet. If you look at the figure which is shown upside down that is Bacchus whose plant is ivy. The upside down leopards are therefore wreathed with ivy and the right ones with millet.

@Lusitani: most scholars refer to the hunters as venatores, and bestiarii who handle the animals. Both were in connection with the munera but not considered as real gladiators though and not as popular and as much admired by the audience. Gladiators were the professionals who fought man against man combats only.

@Sulla Felix: Thanks for the pic of the nice Medusa mosaic.

Thanks, Medusa. I can see Diana as patroness of venatores, but what is the connection of Bacchus? Is it through his identification with Dinysios, whose tutelary animal was the leopard?

I don't have my notes I took down with me from where I write at the moment but I try to remember it what David Bomgardner said about Bacchus/Dionysios:

He said this munus was most probably held in connection with some religious festivity. Diana and the millets stand for female fertility and Bacchus/Dionysios with ivy stands for male fertility. Fertility here in the sense of growing crops and prospering business since the guild of the Telegenii which is mentioned in the text were ship owners.

To go into more detail I really have to look up my notes and could do so sometime on the weekend.

Bomgardner sees in the spectacle depicted in the mosaic a sacrificial event and not an entertainment, it was consecrated to Bacchus and Diana. The leopards are bedecked with sacred plants (millet and ivy) and even the garment decoration of one of the venatores, Hilarius, shows a pattern resembling millet. Venationes were linked to (agricultural) prosperity.

Hi Medusa,

Did Bomgardner translate the text in the centre of the mosaic?