Unique relief with gladiators found in Nicopolis ad Istrum, Bulgaria

A unique relief, depicting a gladiatorial battle, was discovered by the archaeologist Dr. Ivan Tsarov during excavations in the Roman city of Nicopolis ad Istrum in what is today central north Bulgaria.

The newly discovered gladiator fight relief from the Roman city of Nicopolis ad Istrum in North Bulgaria likely
dates back to the reign of the Severan Dynasty (193 – 235 AD) [Credit: Yantra Dnes Daily]

The relief is from the 2nd and 3rd century and was discovered under the pavement of the small square in the southwest corner of the forum complex.

The researchers hypothesize that it was either part of a frieze that decorated a trading table for measuring the weight of olive oil and grains, or that it was part of a sacrificial altar used for rituals before gladiator fights.

“It is interesting that this relief reveals the dynamics of the fight between two types of gladiators, the classical type (secutor) armed with a short sword, helmet, and shield, vs. the retiarius armed with a trident, a dagger, a net, and an arm and shoulder guard,” Tsaros says, as quoted by local daily Yantra Dnes.

The gladiator fights in Nicopolis ad Istrum are believed to have taken place in its amphitheatre whose location has not yet been established.

The only evidence that the residents of Nicopolis ad Istrum were entertained by gladiators have been three inscriptions mentioning gladiator fights. The most interesting of those was discovered back in 1985 in the Roman city’s gymnasium (gymnasion), a training facility for athletes competing in public games.

The study of the archaeological reserve began last week with excavations in the last unspoiled southwest part of the forum. In the 3rd century this was the site of a small town square that was later destroyed during a severe earthquake.

In the 5th-6th century the city administration was exported to the Tsarevets hill, while some of the locals remained in Nicopolis. They remove the collapsed columns, burying them in huge pits, and then levelled the area.

Source: Archaeology in Bulgaria [September 14, 2018]

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