History Hit’s Tristan Hughes heads behind the scenes at the British Museum to get a special look at items from their upcoming exhibition touring the UK: Gladiators of Britain.

Taking visitors back nearly 2,000 years to the Roman province of Britannia and beyond, the exhibition brings together 25 items from the British Museum and Colchester Museums collections, as well as items from each local museum partner.

Join curators Dr Anna Willi and Dr Richard Hobbs as they discuss items featured in the exhibition, including the Murmillo figurine, a bone figurine found near Colchester that depicts a gladiator of the heavily armoured Murmillo class from the 1st - 2nd Century AD, as well as a rare coin with a depiction of the Colosseum on one side, a beautifully preserved gladiator themed oil lamp and incredibly, the Hawkedon Helmet (1st century AD). This is the only piece of gladiatorial armour ever found from Roman Britain.

Item 1: 01:09
Item 2: 08:03
Item 3: 12:10
Item 4: 16:19

Want to see more? Why not take a look for yourself, Gladiators of Britain will be on display at:

Dorset Museum & Art Gallery, Dorchester (25 January – 11 May 2025)
Northampton Museum & Art Gallery (24 May – 7 September 2025)
Grosvenor Museum, Chester (20 September – 25 January 2026)
Tullie House Museum & Art Gallery, Carlisle (7 February – 19 April 2026)

More information about the exhibition and where to get tickets can be found on the British Museum's website:

www.britishmuseum.org/our-work/national/uk-touring-exhibitions-and-loans/current-tours/gladiators-britain

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