Details

COLEM:1931.476

Colchester Collections

cup, gladiator cup, inscription

Glass cups decorated with arena and circus scenes are known ‘sports cups’ and were popular in the western the Roman empire in the first century AD. This example, decorated with gladiators, was discovered at Sheepen, on the outskirts of Colchester, and is one of the most complete examples from Britain. It was made in a mould and horizontal bands divide the design on its exterior. The central section depicts scenes of gladiatorial combat, while the top section features an inscription with the names of the eight combatants: Spiculus, Columbus, Calamus, Holes, Petraites, Prudens, Proculus, Cocumbus. These glass cups were mass-produced and in Britain typically date to around AD 50-70/75. This example dates to AD 49-61. Although the gladiators depicted may represent real people, these objects are more likely to be general arena memorabilia, as opposed to being mementos of a specific gladiatorial event.Colchester Museums curate one of the best collections of Roman glass in the country, especially of the first century AD thanks to Boudica’s rebellion and destruction of the town. The Romans used glass to manufacture a huge range of objects, from bottles, bowls and bath flasks, to hairpins, gaming counters and even windowpanes. In the early period glass vessels were imported into Britain but, from the second half of the first century AD, glass was also made here. The development of glass blowing techniques meant that certain items could be produced cheaply and in large quantities. Glass is often thought to be rare from the Roman world, because it is so fragile, but the main reason for its rarity is because it was recycled throughout the Roman period.

0049 - 0060

Roman

Spiculus, Columbus, Calamus, Holes, Petraites, Prudens, Proculus, Cocumbus

Spiculus, Columbus, Calamus, Holes, Petraites, Prudens, Proculus, Cocumbus

height: 70.00 mm
diameter: 78.00 mm

On Loan