Spoliarium – place where corpses of gladiators were kept

In front of the entrance to the arena of Roman amphitheatres, there was a special space – the so-called spolarium. In this place, the corpses of fallen gladiators were kept, which were deprived of weapons and armament. The weapons and equipment of the fallen were given to the slave owner or to the local armory (armamentarium).

What happened to the bodies then? Most likely, they were thrown to wild animals or buried en masse outside the city. More distinguished and more popular warriors could count on a prestigious burial.

Read more

Battle of the Allia and plunder of Rome by Gauls Venatio – fight with wild animals Great Roman civil war Rise of Vercingetorix Fighting in Italy 216-203 BCE