UDK 904:73.

044652(37) ;
904652(497.11)
ID=187746572

.
,
,

1
:

.
: ,
.
(, , ) (ludi, circenses, munera) II IV .
: , , ,
, , , Sirmium, Singidunum, Viminacium, Naissus.
, ,

, , ,

.2
,
.3

1
, ,
(
177007).
2 2000; 2007: 101-103;
.
a :
1972: 69, ..10; , 1969: . 147 ();
2000: 261, 263, . 2 ().
3 ,
:
o , ,
- ,
,
.

243

A (ludi,
circenses, munera)
, ,
.
. , ,


.4
, ,

.
Passio Sancti Demetrii (Lyaios)
, .5
,
.6

(, , ), , ,

.
***
(ludi)
,
, . (munera gladiatoria)

4

: 1884: 103, , 1992: 74, Mri 2008: 34. 2003.
(: 80 70 m) .
(Golvin 1988).
II IV .
. .
. : Popovi 1971: 93; Popovi
1981; 1993: 96-97.
5 , ,
, . ; Popovi 1981: 126.
6 Amm. arc. Res Gestae, XXI, 10, 1 ( ); XXIX, 6, 11(
).

244

, .7
( )
.

264. . . . ,

.8
,

.9 (Ludi Magni, Ludi Romani)
, .
(ludi circenses).10
,
,
.
, , ,
.11
,
.12
, , .

,
, . (editor,
munerarius) (lanista) ,
, , . ,

.13

7 Futrell 2006: 4-7; Kyle 1998: 43-49.

8 Wiedemann 1992: 5.
9 366. . . . .
(Ludi Plebei, Ludi Apollinares, Ludi Megalenses, Ludi Florales) :
Futrell 2006: 2-3.
10 Futrell 2006: 2.
11 Futrell 2006: 11-29.
12 Futrell 2006: 29-30.
13 CIL XIII 8639.

245

(armatura)
(Gallus, Samnis, Thrax)
,
,
. a,

, .
.
:
.14
,15 16 ,17 18
. 19
, 20 . (essedarii)
.

14 : Futrell 2006: 95-99.

15 (murmillo)
. (subligaculum)
(cintus, balteus). ,
(scutum), (gladius).
16 ( secutor) , ,

.
,
.
.
(manica),
.
(ocreae) .
17 (provocator) .

. (cardiophylax)
.
,
.
18 (thrax, thraex) e
80. . . . . VI. ,
.
, . e
(sica, falx) (parmula); 2009: 145; Futrell 2006: 96.
19 (hoplomachus) ,
(pugio). : ,
, .
20 (eqvites) a .
. ,

. ,
(parma equestris),
. .

246

,
.21
.

.
22 a23
.
(venationes) ,
24, 25 .26
404. .27
,
(damnatio ad bestias) (ad fllamas, crematio)
(ludi meridiani).

. ,
,
.28

21 (retiarius) , , , .
, (galerus, spongia) , . ,
.
(tridens, fuscina), (pugio) (rete)
.
22 (iaculator) ,
(velites).
23 (laquerarius) .
24 (venator) je ,
, -
.
25 (paegniarius)
. ,
.
26 (bestiarius) (scholae bestiarum)
(, , ).
, . ,
.
27 : Khne
2000: 38.
28 Wiedemann 1995: 67-69.

247

.

.29
, , , , .
.
(,
.), .
,
FORTIS CDESI.30

, (T I/15, T II/ 1).
(T II/ 3, 4)
( II 2).
(Loeschcke I, Ivnyi I ) .
e (T I/1)
,
I . .31
, ,
.
. ,
.
.
(pompa)
.32
29 Jacobelli 2003: 99-100.
30 , : Geifenhagen 1974.
. ,
-
.
31 ; Dautova-Ruevljan, Brukner 1992: 82, T I/ 1, T VII/ 1.
32 ()
.
,
. ,
, ,
(pugnauere pares, subcubuere pares)
(rudes et palmas): Martial, Liber de
Spectaculis, XXIX.

248

3a

: 1, 2: ; 3-5:
(Sirmium)

Plate I

Representations of gladiator combats and circus contests on lamps 1, 2: Gomolava; 3-5:

Sremska Mitrovica (Sirmium)

249

3a

II : 1: (Sirmium); 2:
; 3, 4: (Singidunum)
Plate II

250

Representations of gladiator combats on lamps 1: Sremska Mitrovica (Sirmium); 2: Gomilice Kosmaj; 3, 4:

Belgrade (Singidunum)

( / 3, )
. (Loeschcke I,
Ivnyi I), - .

. , ,
, .
.

IX .33 ,
.
(T I/ 4, 5), ,
. (Loeschcke I b,
IV b, Ivnyi I 2). (T I/ 4)
.34
, ( I/ 5),
.35 .
, (hoplomachus) .36
(T II/ 1) .37 (missio) ,
.38

33 , IX . 14. , . . . 62;
, -, 1987: 93, . 11, 36/ 5.
34 . , III,
30. , . . / 1554; , , 1987: 93, . 7, 36/ 4; Viki-Belani 1971: 138, T XXVII/ 6, 7; Ivnyi 1935:
II/ 1-5.
35 54 ( 5).
(. . 44454). .
36
.
, , .
.
37 , . . 8542; Viki-Belani 1971: 138, kat. br. 65,
T V/ 7, XIX/ 17; Ivnyi 1935: T VI/ 135-142.
38
.
.

251

.
(. T II/ 2)
.39
,
, ( I/ 2)
. .
, .
,
(T I/ 1),
I . .40
(T II/ 4)

II III .41
, ,
.
(T II/ 3 a, ) III .
-.42

. , ,
.43 .
, ,
.
( )
decumbere .44

39
(Loeschcke I C; Ivnyi I 3). .
(. . 687, 689, 700).
(.
. G 941); 1977: . 321; 2010: 18, . 30.
40 , -, 1987: 52, 41/ 1, 2; Dautova-Ruevljan, Brukner 1992: 82.
41 , . . AA 2213; 1977: 18, . 14/ 2;
2006: 60, . 9.
42 .
, . . AA 34; Kruni 2005: 65, sl. 31; 2011: 250, 251,
. 400, 403.
43
, .
44 ,
; Auguet 1972: 50-51.

252

, , ,
,
.45
( IV, XXI)

II III .46
,
.

aa
( III/ 112).
,
,
. (T III/ 1, 2)
.47
,
.48 ,
49, 50, 51, 52, 53 .54

.55 (Drag. 37)
( I ),
( II 260. .), ( II III

45 .
, .
; 2011: 363.
46 1980: 45-47; 1982: 20; Kruni 2005: 65.
47 Bjelajac 1990: . 22/230 ( ); . 25/ 256 b (); Kondi, Cvjetianin 1994: Pl. 2/8
().
48 Bjelajac 1990: T. 49/ 522, 523.
49 Brukner 1981.
50 Bjelajac 1990: T. 14/ 147, 215. . 22/230 ( ).
51 , : Bjelajac 1990: T.
20/ 205; Ivanievi, Nikoli-orevi 1997: 75-83, . 12/ 37, 43.
52 Kondi, Cvjetianin 1994: Pl. 2/8, Pl. 3/3, Pl. 4/ 4.
53 Bjelajac 1990: . 4/ 37.
54 Bjelajac 1990: T. 20/ 201 ().
55 - (II )

: Bjelajac 1990: 145, T. 67/ B2.

253

1
2

5
4
6

7
8

11

13

10
12

III 1-5: (Viminacium); 6, 8: (Viminacium); 7:

(Singidunum); 9: (Margum); 10, 11: (Sirmium); 12: (Burgenae); 13:
(Tricornium) : Bjelajac 1990, Brukner 1981.
Plate III

254

Representations on terra sigillata 1-5: Peine (Viminacium); 6, 8: Vie grobalja (Viminacium); 7: Belgrade
(Singidunum); 9: Margum; 10, 11: Sremska Mitrovica (Sirmium); Banovci (Burgenae); 13: Ritopek (tricornium)
after: Bjelajac 1990, Brukner 1981.

) ( III ).56
, ,
(venatio) .
,
.
(venatio)
(ludus matutinus).57
(venatores) (bestiarii, paegniarii)
.

(/ 1012).58
( II )
.59 ,
(T III/ 12)
,
.60
(ludi
meridiani) ,
(damnatio ad bestias).
( III/ 5, 6) ,
(T III/ 3, 4), (pulpitum)
a .61
, (, ,
), , .
.
.62
(Drag. 37) 63 64

.

56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64

1990: 77.
Futrell 2006: 89; Wiedemann 1992: 55-67; Kyle 1998: 187-190.
Brukner 1981: 21, . 28/ 55, 59.
Bjelajac 1991: 75, 10/ 94 (); 32/322 a, b ();
Bjelajac 1991: 14/ 145 (); 46/ 498 ().
Bjelajac 1990: T. 15/ 151a, b.
Brukner 1981: . 33/ 100.
Brukner 1981: 22, . 26/ 40.
Bjelajac 1990: 10/ 96 ( ).

255

.

.65

, , , .
,
,

.66
, ,
- , .67
(T IV/ 1).68
, , .
.
.
(fasces). ,
, EQVOREVS EQVORICVS.
- aequoreus ( ).69
( IV/ 4), IV ,

65 Bjelajac 1990: T. 10/ 98.

66 .

,
: 2000: 259.
67 -
1889. 1901. ( . 184, 1902. . )

: 2001: 155.
, ,
, .
( ) .
68 18. 1901. . 132. (. .
17037): Oani 2001, 156-159, Sl. 3, 4.
,
: Miloevi 1971: 108, 113, N. 96; 2001: 154-155.
69 Oani 2001: 157.

256

4
3

IV : 1: (Sirmium); 2: (Romuliana); 3:
(Viminacium); 4:
Plate IV

Gladiator representations on bricks 1: Sremska Mitrovica (Sirmium); 2: Gamzigrad (Romuliana); 3: Kostolac

(Viminacium); 4: Beljnjaa near id

, .70

70
: Pop-Lazi 2008: 165.

257

.71 ,
(Romuliana)
, .
,
, .
.
.

298. . ,
,
.72
( IV/ 3) YC
.73
(Iaculator)
(velites)
.74 ,

(T IV/ 2). , ,

.75
(H)YC (Hilarus)
.76

(: 7,6 11 1,4 cm),
,
(T V/ 2 a, ).77

71
72
73
74

2000.
2006: 258-259.
1931: 129-139, no. 313; Mirkovi 1986: 183, No. 233; Popovi 1994; Jovanovi 2000: 261.

: 2000: 261.
75 IMS II ,
: Mirkovi 1986: 183, No. 233.
76 Popovi 1994: 166; 2000: 261.
77 - (. . 03/ 3768):
Vujovi 2011.

258

,
.
.
. , .
.
.
.
, .
, .78

VRSI VRSA(...).79

,
.80
Maximus, .81
vrsvs .82
Vrsicinvs, Vrsilianvs, Vrsinvs Vrsio ,
.83
.84 IIIII .
Vrsacivs-, VII Claudia,
P. Aelivs Vrsulvs.85

, : M(arcus) A(urelius) Vrsi(nus) : M(arci) A(urelii)

78 ,
.
79 Vujovi 2011.
80 Alfldy 1938: 338, no. 46, Taf. LXVIII/ 2a, b ( ).
a (II-III ):
2009: 204, . . 121, . 121; : Futrell 2006:
Fig. 3.1; 3.6; 3.7.
81 OPEL III, 42-72.
82
: URSARIVS LEG(ionis) XXX U(lpiae) V(iscicis) S(everinae) A(lexandrinae); CIL XIII,
8639.
83 Kajanto 1965: 329330; OPEL IV, 186187; Alfldy 1969: 316318;
Vrsico : Kajanto 1965: 329; CIL XIII 10010, 2100.
84 Vrsio: ILJ 1384, IMS VI 105; Vrsa: IMS I 52; Vrsvs: ILJ 1448.
85 AE 1903: 296; IMS II 127.

259

2a

1
2

: 1. , (: 1934);
2. , (: 2011).

Plate V

Molds and Medallions: 1. Viminacium, unknown site (after 1934);

2. Viminacium, Selite (after 2011)

Vrsi, (editor) ,
, .
II, III . , ,
- .
.

.86 ,

86 Humphrey 1986: 250, Pl. 125.

260

(crustulum et mulsum)
. (pula
publica) , ,
, (ludi, munera). , (editor muneris, munerarius),
,
.87

, .88

crustullum-a,
. (1112 cm),

.89 .90

( V/ 1) .91 ,
(: 12 cm).
,
.
,
. , ,
, .
,
. ,
. ,
.
-.
. ,

87
88
89
90

Sifakis 1966: 268; Squarciapino 1954: 98.

Squarciapino 1954: 98.
Alfldy 1938.
Alfldy 1938: 338-339, No. 48-50; Taf. LXVIII/ 1a, b; Taf. LXVIII/ 3a, b (); 1997: T I/ 2
(); Alfldy 1938: 332, no. 28 ( ); 2009: . 2, 3 (); Alfldy 1938: Taf.
L VIII/ 1; Taf. LXI/ 2; Taf. LXXII/ 1 (); 1997: (); 1972: 29,
. XVI/ 1 ().
91 1934: 55.
: . ,
.

261

.
.

: , ,
, .92
(239. ) , ,
.
, , -,
VII
Claudia.
,
- ,
.93 , ,

.
IIIII
.94 , ,
, ,
, , , .95

.
(venatio) ,
D
( I) IV .96
( VI/ 1).
, ,
.

92 2007: 257-258.
93 ,
, ,
.
94 IMS II 35, 36, 37.
95 1968: 276; IMS I, . 19 (); Popovi 1997: 96-97 (); 1941-1948:
102, . 233 (); 1931: 135, .325 ().
96 1993: 265, . . 92 ; Cvetkovi-Tomaevi, in: La mosaique greco-romaine IV, 1994: pl.
LXXI, 1; : Mano-Zisi 1956: fig 18, 19.

262

.97
, ,
, ,
,
.

( VII/13) ,
.
(T VII/1)


(: 8,3 cm).98

. ,
VI : , . D, a I,
(Romuliana)

:
Plate VI Mosaic: Hunting scene, venatores; hall D palace I, Gamzigrad
(Romuliana)
.

.
,
II III .99

97 Dunbabin 1978: pl. LXXVII.

98 , . . 09_2781 (2781/ III).
99 1972: 68-69, . . 100.

263

3
2

264

VII

- : 1: (Viminacium); 2:
(Mediana); 3: (Pincum); 4: , ( )

Plate VII

Sculptures representations of gladiators 1: Vicinity of Poarevac (Viminacium); 2: Medijana (Mediana); 3: Veliko

Gradite (Pincum); 4: Germany, unknown site (private collection)

( VII/ 2)
(: 9,4 cm) .100
( ) .
, .
,
.
.
, .

. ,
.101
( VII/ 3)
(: 4,5 cm).102
. , a
.
, ,
. ,
II III ,
, .
( III/ 4) ,
, .103
e .

. ,
,
(, , , )
.104

100 1936. , . . 26/ : 194148: 111, . 244; 1991: 23-24, . . 13.

101
.
: Wiedemann 1992: Fig. 9.
102 , . . 02/ 529: 1986: 44, .
. 71.
103 http://www.hermann-historica.de/auktion/hhm50.pl?f=NR&c=48947&t=temartic_1_D&db=A-50.txt;
http://www.hermann-historica.de/auktion/hhm60.pl?f=NR_LOT&c=2072&t=temartic
_A_D&db=kat60_a.txt; (11.04.2011)
104 Wiedeman 1995: 23.

265

(ludi, munera) . , ,

.
,

, ,
.

, ,

.105
.

, , ,
.
, , ,
, .
( , )

( , , ) , ,
,
.
, ,
.106 , , ,

105 (Drag. 37)

, , , ,
( , ) .
(, , )
(, , ).
, , ,

( , , )
: 2006:
60. , ,
, ,
- .
106 ,
, . ,
,

: 2001: 154-155. 1971: 108, 141, 142.

266

,
. ,
, , IV ,
.107
, ,
, .
,
,
.108
,
(IIII Flavia, VII Claudia)
I .109 , ,
, , .
,
,
,
.110 (: 80
60 m)
, 1 km ,
, , .111

, ( I )
( I ).
, (, ),

107
. , ,
.
374.
(Amm. arc. Res Gestae, XXIX,
6, 11), . , ,
, ,
, :
Popovi 1981: 126.
108 Futrell 2006: 66.
109 Buovac 2007.
110
: 2006: 355, 357,
XIII-2 ; . e
: 1976: 59.
111
: 1977: 95.

267

.
II III .
,
III .112 II III

, (,
, , ), . ,
,
(venationes) II ,
(, , )
().113

II III , .114
, ,

.
.
,
.115
, (
), , ,
.

, ,
,
.
,
.

112
113
114
115

268

Bjelajac 1990.
2009: 134-145.
2009: 144; Sanader 2001: 29
2009: 144.

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/ ABBReVIATIOns:
CIL

Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum

Diss. Pann.

Dissertationes Pannonicae ex instituto numismatico et archaeologico universitaties de

Petro Pzmny Budapest series

IMS

Inscriptions de la Msie suprieure, centre dtudes pigraphiques et numismatiques de

la facult de philosophie de lUniversit Beograd.

ILJug

A. et J. ael, Inscriptiones Latinae quae in Iugoslavia, Ljubljana 1963, 1978, 1986

OPEL IV

Onomasticon Provinciarvm Evropae Latinarvm, Vol. III: Wien 2000.

OPEL IV

Onomasticon Provinciarvm Evropae Latinarvm, Vol. IV: Wien 2002.

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Miroslav B. VujoVi
University of Belgrade
faculty of Philosophy Department of Archaeology, Belgrade

Representations of Gladiators from the

Roman Sites in Serbia

Professor Aleksandar Jovanovi paid attention in few of his works to representations of gladiators,
athletes, circus competitions and other scenes from the amphitheater and hippodrome. I will try
in this work following the signposts indicated in these texts to compile the finds of such scenes
from the archaeological sites in Serbia.
The archaeological finds with diverse scenes ascribed to the group of antique games (ludi, circenses, munera) are important as possible indicators of acceptance of the Roman way of life and customs but also as evidence of the character, organization and duration of games in the Roman
provinces within the borders of modern Serbia. The investigations of distinct public buildings
intended for gladiator combats or circus competitions like amphitheater in Viminacium and Late
Roman hippodrome in Sremska Mitrovica (Sirmium) confirm that games had been organized
there in the Roman times. Besides occasional and late mentions, the historical and epigraphic
sources mostly remain silent about gladiator combats and circus races in the Roman provinces in
this region, so every trace, which shed more light on this important and very interesting subject,
is rather significant.
The summary of heterogeneous finds from the territory of Serbia with representations from
amphitheaters and circuses indicates that without any doubt the games had been organized in
this region. It should be emphasized that each distinctive group of archaeological finds has different importance in these studies. The imported pottery lamps (Pl. I, II) or bowls with relief representations of gladiators (Pl. III) are in fact just goods whose distribution mostly depended on traffic
and market conditions, while drawings on bricks (Pl. IV) or votive objects with characteristic scenes
(Pl. V, VII) suggest more direct interest of local population in the world of antique games.
The almost complete absence of lamps with gladiators in the necropoles of Viminacium, which is
hitherto only Roman city in Serbia with archaeologically confirmed amphitheater, suggests that
quantity of such finds at distinct site could not be understood as confirmation for the organization of the games. The pottery vessels with game scenes are somewhat more frequent in
Viminacium, so they together with other similar finds like figurines, pottery molds and drawings
on bricks provide more comprehensible picture.
In Sirmium, the oldest Roman city in Serbia, the amphitheater has not been archaeologically confirmed until these days. Nevertheless, there was encountered considerably amount of lamps and
imported terra sigillata with the scenes from arena as well as the drawings of gladiators on tegu-

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lae. All this and importance of this civil settlement as political and economic center indicate that
besides the hippodrome constructed in the beginning of the 4th century we could expect to find
amphitheatre or theatre in the area of modern Sremska Mitrovica.
Singidunum, castrum of the legion and large civil center at the confluence of the Sava and the
Danube, could have also had an amphitheater but its remains have also not been discovered yet.
We should however bore in mind the fact that amphitheaters are confirmed or supposed in
Burnum and Tilurium, the original camps of two legions (IIII Flavia, VII Claudia) later transferred
from Dalmatia to the Danube valley (in the end of the 1st century). This leaves room for the
assumption that like in Viminacium the amphitheatre could have been constructed next to the
castrum in Singidunum or in its vicinity.
We could only assume whether Naissus as important strategic center in the time of Roman conquest of territory of present-day Serbia and later antique city with many magnificent buildings
had its amphitheatre or hippodrome because we do not have conclusive evidence in the archaeological finds. There are certain assumptions that structure of horse-shoe shape (80 x 60 m) at the
site Konjsko groblje around 1 km to the northwest of Ni could be the remains of the amphitheater.
The earliest representations of diverse repertoire of the games appear on imported pottery, first
of all on lamps from north Italic centers dating from the first decades of the 1st century and on
south Gaulish terra sigillata from the end of the 1st century. These finds are concentrated at the
sites of first Roman settlements, mostly in the Sava valley (Sirmium, Gomolava), i.e. along main
communication routes in the Pannonia Inferior. More frequent appearance of merchandise with
such representations in Moesia Superior starts from the 2nd century and continues in the 3rd century. The import of vessels from the workshops at Rheinzabern, Westendorf, Pfaffenhofen and
Trier was most intensive after the Marcomannic wars and continued in the second half of the 3rd
century. The period of the 2nd and 3rd century was the time of intensive social and first of all economic progress in the Roman provinces in the territory of modern Serbia. It was the time of rapid
development of economy (mining, agriculture, trade, and craftsmanship), urban centers and
immigration of the Romanized population. The examples from the neighboring Roman Thrace
reveal that first gladiator combats and hunting performances (venations) in this area have been
taking place already in the mid 2nd century and that construction of permanent amphitheaters
was more frequent from the time of Severi until the beginning of Diocletians reign.
More frequent organizing of games could be expected in the territory of present-day Serbia during that period as it is confirmed in Viminacium. The organizers of these bloodthirsty performances could have been high-ranking officials and priests of imperial cult and gladiators were mostly
of Hellenic origin, either from Greece or Asia Minor.
The unreliable information from the historical sources and absence of epigraphic monuments
mentioning the games, their patrons and particularly lack of funerary monuments of gladiators

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or other game participants in the territory of Serbia makes impossible for the time being studying in detail this interesting subject. We hope that there soon will be more possibilities for such
investigations based on archaeological excavations, detailed anthropological analyses or the revisions of the museum collections.

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