The gladiator is the most popular figure in the Roman world. He embodies life-and-death combat, greatest glory and maximum risk. Gladiators got their name from the legionnaires' sword, the ‘gladius’ – they were men of the sword, their combat a spectacle. The Colosseum in Rome, as a symbol of the Roman Empire, provided the perfect stage for that spectacle.

Highlights of the exhibition include original Roman gladiator equipment from the gladiator school in Pompeii. Excavations and finds from the Limes in Bavaria and Hesse show that gladiatorial combat also captivated the population at the distant borders of the empire. Lifelike reconstructions and models, media and immersive communication levels transport visitors into the world of Roman gladiators.

The exhibition is a collaboration between the National Archaeological Museum in Naples, Expona and Contemporanea Progetti.

An accompanying programme is being planned. 

Duration: 21st November 2025 to 3rd May 2026