Gladiator belts Decoration

[john m roberts]

Early gladiator belts appear to be of the standard one-piece Samnite/Lucanian bronze construction, and were probably captured enemy equipment. These belts are fairly common grave finds and are sometimes decorated, sometimes plain. Later gladiatorial belts got wider and are sometimes depicted as decorated, but whether applied, embossed or painted is unclear. Late Empire gladiators from the East often wore elaborate belts made up of multiple straps with ring buckles. I know of no extant specimens, though, only artistic depictions.