Ancient gladiator ring found in Turkey

In the remains of the ancient city of Anazarbus in southern Turkey, archaeologists have discovered a gladiator’s ring. The find was in the former arena where gladiators clashed with wild beasts.

The area of ​​the city of Anazarbus used to be over 4 km2. To conduct excavations at this site, the researchers received a grant from the Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism, and the research has been going on for 14 months. According to archaeologists, the city had a huge stadium, one of the largest and best-preserved in Anatolia. The buildings had special towers, the fights of which were judged by judges. Near the stadium, at the southern end of the city, is an amphitheatre that has yet to be explored.

The ruins of the city of Anazarbus come from 19 BCE, but the area was inhabited much earlier.