Britain's What's On Event Guide
Gladiator Day
Gladiator Day
On 19 July from 11 am the Roman tented encampment opens, and the Gladiators will fight at 12noon and 3pm. So, save the date.
Britannia’s gladiators are a mixed bunch… a cross section of Romano-British society at the end of the first century AD. Among them you will find soldiers who found themselves on the wrong side of mutinies, criminals, slaves born to fight as well as citizens who long for the thrill of the arena.
Some of them are fair-minded types. Others are more `creative’ when it comes to defeating an opponent. It may end in tears…or even worse.
Imagine for a moment. You are sitting in the amphitheatre in Ewell waiting for things to start. A cheer goes up as trumpets blast, sending the birds feeding at the sacred spring nearby wheeling up into the sky above you. From within the bowels of the arena, the Pompa emerges ( the opening pageant)– the summa rudis,( the referee) Charun, ( the man with the hammer who despatches the wounded) Hermes ( herald of the Gods), the priestesses of Fortuna and finally – the gladiators themselves.
Two teams of Gladiators from the award-winning group Britannia
(featured in TV's Horrible Histories and Ridley Scott's film gladiator), will fight for the entertainment of the public. It will be a gladiator show that all the family will enjoy.
There may be blood (effects), so not for the fainthearted.
Around the amphitheatre there will be living history talks and demonstrations in the Roman tented encampment throughout the day, meet Iron Age Britons, Romans and some of the emperor's praetorian guards, here on official business.
On 19 July from 11 am the Roman tented encampment opens, and the Gladiators will fight at 12noon and 3pm. So, save the date.
Britannia’s gladiators are a mixed bunch… a cross section of Romano-British society at the end of the first century AD. Among them you will find soldiers who found themselves on the wrong side of mutinies, criminals, slaves born to fight as well as citizens who long for the thrill of the arena.
Some of them are fair-minded types. Others are more `creative’ when it comes to defeating an opponent. It may end in tears…or even worse.
Imagine for a moment. You are sitting in the amphitheatre in Ewell waiting for things to start. A cheer goes up as trumpets blast, sending the birds feeding at the sacred spring nearby wheeling up into the sky above you. From within the bowels of the arena, the Pompa emerges ( the opening pageant)– the summa rudis,( the referee) Charun, ( the man with the hammer who despatches the wounded) Hermes ( herald of the Gods), the priestesses of Fortuna and finally – the gladiators themselves.
Two teams of Gladiators from the award-winning group Britannia
(featured in TV's Horrible Histories and Ridley Scott's film gladiator), will fight for the entertainment of the public. It will be a gladiator show that all the family will enjoy.
There may be blood (effects), so not for the fainthearted.
Around the amphitheatre there will be living history talks and demonstrations in the Roman tented encampment throughout the day, meet Iron Age Britons, Romans and some of the emperor's praetorian guards, here on official business.
Saturday 19 July
Bourne Hall Park, Spring Street, Ewell, Surrey KT17 1UF
FREE
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