Maximus and Co DID fight to the death in Britain

Last updated at 10:36 17 February 2007


The Romans may be considered a civilising influence on our land.

But their invasion had darker consequences too – staining British history with the blood of gladiators.

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Archaelogists have come across unequivocal proof that fighters battled for their lives on our shores, as the crowd egged them on.

Excavators in Chester have uncovered a long stone block used to chain animals or even human victims for slaughter by gladiators, in the Wembley Stadium of Roman Britain.

The discovery of the block and of columns signalling an amphitheatre which is much bigger

than previously thought have changed historians' opinions of life and entertainment at the time.

Until now, it was thought that the legions garrisoned here watched only military displays in

the amphitheatres.

But it seems increasingly likely that battles similar to those fought by Russell Crowe's character Maximus in the film Gladiator

actually took place in Britain.

Tony Wilmott, senior archaeologist with English Heritage, said the scale of the amphitheatre put

it into the Premier League of Roman spectacles.

"The two storeys and the ornate stonework would have made this the Roman equivalent of an modern

all-seater football stadium – like an ancient version of Wembley.

"Nothing on this scale has been found in Britain before, it is very rare anywhere north of the Alps."

Of the block, he said: "This piece of arena furniture was placed slap-bang in the middle of

the 'pitch' – there was no place to hide from the crowd.

"It could have only been used for one thing

– gladiatorial games.

"Up to now this sort of equipment was only seen in mosaics, so we knew it existed, but this is

the first archaeological proof.

"The legions garrisoned in Chester would have most likely come from other parts of the Empire, and like any force overseas would need to be entertained.

"The amphitheatre was first constructed soon after they arrived and it is obvious they brought in the biggest and best – Premier

League entertainment.

"We are also in possession of a piece of someone's vertebrae which is consistent with some

unfortunate soul having their head sliced off."

Mr Wilmott, who will chair a conference in the city today to discuss the findings, added: "This is groundbreaking news.

"Hopefully the knowledge of colleagues from all over the world will throw up new lines of inquiry about our discovery.

"There are still a number of questions about the nature of the block, which has a lead plug

fixing a iron ring to it.

"We don't know whether humans or animals were chained, whether the chains were long or short, or whether the chains passed through the ring on the stone allowing a degree of free movement.

"It is possible that the blocks were also used for displaying exotic animals or for executing

criminals who would be cast into the arena together with violent beasts."

Dan Garner, an archaeologist with Chester City Council, said the discovery put beyond doubt

the presence of gladiators on our shores.

He said: "We can banish any thought Chester's amphitheatre was used purely for military purposes such as military tattoos or drill practice.

"We have found human and animal remains to suggest that gladiatorial games may have taken place, but the discovery of the third chain block put that suggestion almost beyond doubt.

"I'm sure people met a rather brutal end in Chester's arena some 1,900 years ago."

The Roman settlement of Deva Victrix, which is now Chester, was founded in AD79 during the

reign of the emperor Vespasian.

It was the largest fortress in Britain and was built by the Roman Second Legion.

Its amphitheatre, one of 18 remaining in Britain, is the biggest.

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