A Gladiator Mosaic at Santa Maria Nova

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I have walked more than once along the Via Appia but I don’t remember seeing this mosaic. It shows a gladiator with a trident. The name of a gladiator equipped in this manner is Retiarius. Next time you are on the Appian Way consider visiting this Roman Villa, along with the various catacombs.

For #MosaicMonday a panel depicting a gladiatorial combat, recently discovered in the baths of a 2nd c. CE Roman villa at Santa Maria Nova, along the Appian Way. We see a retiarius ('net-man') called Montanus and the referee Antonius with his staff #RomanArchaeology pic.twitter.com/FksWdT6Bsi
— Giacomo Savani (@GiacomoSavani) February 14, 2022