A rare Roman knife handle in the shape of a gladiator has been recovered from the Tyne River at Corbridge Roman Town, a site in northern England along Hadrian’s Wall, in Northumberland.

The copper alloy handle depicts a gladiator with helmet and shield. The knife is a remarkable and rare example of a Roman gladiator souvenir. It provides new evidence that gladiators’ celebrity status extended to the very edge of the Roman Empire.

The knife handle depicts a fully armed secutor, or “follower,” a strong muscular fighter heavily equipped with a large shield, sword and helmet. The secutor figurine is left-handed which would have been considered unlucky at the time. This suggests it is potentially a representation of a specific gladiator. Some gladiators were even taught to fight left-handed, perhaps to gain advantage over their opponents.

“It is rare to find a piece of gladiator memorabilia in Britain and to find such a well preserved and interesting piece is particularly remarkable,” Dr Frances McIntosh, English Heritage’s Collections Curator for Hadrian’s Wall and the North East, said.

“Despite being enslaved and socially outcast due to their profession, gladiators could become huge celebrities. Gladiators and the ‘spectacles’ were an integral part of Roman cultural life, taking place all across the Roman Empire. The phenomenon inspired the creation of sporting memorabilia, such as decorated ceramics and glass cups, lamps and figurines.

“Gladiators had sex appeal and there are cases of high-status Roman women falling ‘in love’ with these lowly fighters, despite the vast social difference. This beautifully made knife handle is a testament to how pervasive this celebrity culture was, reaching all the way to Hadrian’s Wall at the very edge of the Roman Empire.

“Even now, almost 2,000 years later, the fascination around gladiators persists and has expanded even further into modern popular culture, as evidenced by the excitement surrounding the new Gladiator film sequel.”