11-15-2011, 09:41 PM
Hi all,
I was just browsing the Ancient Combat Sports section and didn't see mentioned anywhere the Kanz and Grossschmidt article for Forensic Science International:
Head Injuries of Roman Gladiators
Here's a blurb from the Intro:
'Human skulls from a gladiator cemetery in ancient
Ephesus (Turkey) provide the opportunity to assess the lethal
aspects of ancient gladiator fights. It is the first mass grave of
its kind to have undergone thorough osteological and forensic
analysis. Beside the opportunity for reassessing written
theories involving weaponry and techniques of fighting, the
examination of the gladiator bones gives an excellent
opportunity to check the methods for identification of antemortem,
perimortem, or postmortem bone lesions'.
It can be heavy on the science but that's to be expected, the most interesting parts are the accounts of gladiator weaponry, and the results (along with good colour photographs) of studying the 68 gladiator skeletons and their injuries. Here's two interesting quotes:
'Although there was a low expectation of deadly cranial
wounds because of the use of helmets, 10 perimortem
wounds affecting the same number of individuals could
be detected. A possible explanation is provided by the
reported deathblow technique used by an arena servant
dressed up as the death god ‘‘Dis Pater’’ carrying an hammer'.
'..the perimortem trauma impact positions seem to be
consistent with the above mentioned deathblow administration,
where the executor wishes to avoid eye-to-eye contact'.
So, has anybody here read it? And if not, what are the rules regarding sharing articles on the site?
Joe
I was just browsing the Ancient Combat Sports section and didn't see mentioned anywhere the Kanz and Grossschmidt article for Forensic Science International:
Head Injuries of Roman Gladiators
Here's a blurb from the Intro:
'Human skulls from a gladiator cemetery in ancient
Ephesus (Turkey) provide the opportunity to assess the lethal
aspects of ancient gladiator fights. It is the first mass grave of
its kind to have undergone thorough osteological and forensic
analysis. Beside the opportunity for reassessing written
theories involving weaponry and techniques of fighting, the
examination of the gladiator bones gives an excellent
opportunity to check the methods for identification of antemortem,
perimortem, or postmortem bone lesions'.
It can be heavy on the science but that's to be expected, the most interesting parts are the accounts of gladiator weaponry, and the results (along with good colour photographs) of studying the 68 gladiator skeletons and their injuries. Here's two interesting quotes:
'Although there was a low expectation of deadly cranial
wounds because of the use of helmets, 10 perimortem
wounds affecting the same number of individuals could
be detected. A possible explanation is provided by the
reported deathblow technique used by an arena servant
dressed up as the death god ‘‘Dis Pater’’ carrying an hammer'.
'..the perimortem trauma impact positions seem to be
consistent with the above mentioned deathblow administration,
where the executor wishes to avoid eye-to-eye contact'.
So, has anybody here read it? And if not, what are the rules regarding sharing articles on the site?
Joe
Arma virumque cano
