Colchester Museums is proud to announce that one of its most iconic objects, the Colchester Vase, will be a key highlight of a major touring exhibition organised by the British Museum.
The Colchester Vase, a remarkable Roman cremation vessel dating back to the 2nd century AD, has recently been removed from display at Colchester Castle to participate in the "Gladiators of Britain" exhibition. This touring event will explore the history of gladiatorial combat in Roman Britain, bringing together significant artefacts from the British Museum and partner institutions across the UK.
The Colchester Vase is an extraordinary artefact that offers unique insights into the lives of the Romans in Britain. It features intricate scenes depicting gladiatorial battles, serving as one of the earliest pieces of evidence suggesting that such spectacles took place in the Roman province ‘Britannia’. The Vase was found in a Roman grave at Colchester and has become a symbol of the city's rich Roman heritage.
The Vase's participation in the tour, along with other key Roman items from Colchester Museums, such as the glass sports cup and gladiator helmet lamp, underscores Colchester's significance as a pivotal site in Roman Britain, offering a unique glimpse into the social and cultural fabric of the time. While the Vase is away, Colchester Castle will provide visitors with updated information and display materials to highlight its journey and significance.
“Gladiators of Britain” will begin its tour at the Dorset Museum & Art Gallery in January 2025, with additional stops in Northampton, Chester, and Carlisle before concluding in 2026. During this time, visitors in these regions will have the rare opportunity to view the Colchester Vase outside of its home city, where it has been displayed almost continuously since its discovery over 170 years ago.
Councillor Natalie Sommers, Portfolio Holder for Communities, Heritage and Public Protection at Colchester City Council, said: “The Colchester Vase is a treasured part of our local history, and we are incredibly proud to see it featured in this national exhibition. This tour offers a wonderful opportunity to share Colchester's rich Roman heritage with a wider audience and highlights the vital role our city played in Roman Britain. We look forward to welcoming the Vase back home in 2026, enriched with new stories from its journey.”
Glynn Davis, Senior Collections & Learning Curator for Colchester Museums, said: “It’s incredibly exciting that the Colchester Vase is joining some of the most important gladiator-related objects in the country, that shed new light of the men-behind-the-helmets that battled in Roman-Britain's arenas. New research and scientific analysis are revealing insights into who the gladiators of Britain were and the nature of the Roman games. The Colchester Vase is central to understanding these shifts in perspective, bringing us closer to the realities of the arena and the people that fought and died in violent spectacle.”
Page last reviewed: 19 November 2024