We showed that the inscription had clearly been cut before firing. The curving strokes which made up the letters, and the clear superimposition of those strokes, could only have been achieved in soft clay, not after firing. Combined with the placing of the inscription, clearly allowed for from the start by the placing of other decoration, we revealed that adding the inscription was planned from the start. And looking close-up showed too that the inscription had been very finely cut by an experienced writer, being comparable to some of the finest 'hands' in the Vindolanda writing tablets. It had also been cut after the slip which gives the purplish sheen to the vessel had dried, so that the letters being cut deeply into the fabric would stand out in strong colour contrast when they fired to orange in the kiln. Combined with the extraordinary size of the pot and the quality of the barbotine decoration and its attention to detail (see Nina and Joanna for detail), the inscription shows that the vessel was planned from the start as an extraordinary souvenir of a specific day at the games.
Dr John Pearce, Department of Classics
17 March 2025
Vase depicting real gladiator fight featured at British Museum exhibition
Dr John Pearce co-leads research concluding vase decoration recorded specific gladiator battle.
The Gladiators of Britain exhibition at the British Museum showcases some of the UK’s most important objects revealing the violence of the gladiator arena, and the significance of the spectacle within Roman culture. A highlight of the exhibition is the Colchester Vase which records an actual battle between two real gladiators.
John Pearce, Reader in Archaeology at King’s Department of Classics and King’s alumnus Glynn Davis, UCL, Institute of Archaeology co-lead new research on the vase found in Colchester, Essex.
The locally made colour-coated ware vessel known as the Colchester Vase is argued to be a commissioned piece recording a performance in the town. The inscription on the vessel, cut pre-firing, names individual arena performer. One name, Memnon, is argued to be a ‘stage name’ taken from a protagonist in the Trojan war. The connection of another fighter, Valentinus, to the 30th legion has been re-considered as evidence for gladiators linked to the Roman army. The Vase's final use was found to be a cremation urn. Researchers used osteological and isotopic analysis to reveal the cremated remains to be a non-local male of 40+ years; unlikely to be one of the performers, although he may have been closely connected to the event.
Visitors are welcomed to view the vase and other objects at the British Museum exhibition that will be open until 19 April 2026.
Dr John Pearce will give a lecture about these finding at the Dorchester museum in April.
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Reader in Archaeology