International Archaeology Day lecture: Roman Gladiators!

ABOUT THE TALK

This talk delves into the heart of Roman entertainment culture, where violence and death became spectacle. Gladiators—enslaved warriors, criminals, and volunteers—fought to the death in arenas, their fates intertwined with the roaring crowds. Far from mere sport, these deadly games were deeply embedded in Roman social, political, and cultural life. Through a detailed analysis of material culture, particularly tombstones and inscriptions, we will explore how the lives and deaths of these combatants were commemorated. These poignant artifacts offer insights into gladiatorial identities, social status, and the public’s fascination with death as entertainment. It will also examine the critical role of ancient Sicily as a key site of gladiatorial history.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Davide Tanasi is professor in the Department of History at the University of South Florida, where he is also founder and director of the College of Arts and Sciences’ Institute for Digital Exploration and scientific director of the Mediterranean Diet Archaeology Project with the Institute for the Advanced Study of Culture and the Environment. He is an archaeological scientist specialized in archaeology of ancient Sicily and Malta, with research areas of interest in pottery and glass technology, bio-archaeology, biomolecular archaeology, 3D digital imaging applied to archaeology and cultural heritage study. In that field, he has authored over 170 articles and several books and special issues of journals including the recent Archaeology of the Mediterranean during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages (University Press of Florida 2023). Dr Tanasi is Principal Investigator of the HADES Project (Heloros Advanced Digital Exploration and Surveying) for the remote sensing mapping of the Greek city of Heloros in Sicily, Co-Principal Investigator of the ARCHLabs Project (Archaeological Heritage in Late Antique and Byzantine Sicily) focusing of the Roman Villa del Casale in Sicily and Co-Principal Investigator of the archaeological excavation project Melite Civitas Romana at the Domvs Romana of Rabat, in Malta.

Pinellas County complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you are a person with a disability who needs an accommodation to participate in this class you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Prior to 14 business days before the class, please submit your request to [email protected] and [email protected]. Include the date and title of the program and what specific accommodations you will need.

Host or Publisher WIP Cultural and Natural History Center