Gladiatorial games in the Greek East: a complex of reliefs from Cibyra

Abstract

This article presents a body of architectural reliefs and two stelae from the ancient town of Cibyra in the Roman province of Asia and, in most cases, now kept in the provincial Burdur Museum. The pieces show different aspects of gladiatorial games, such as duels between gladiators and the hunting of animals. It is argued that the architectural reliefs once belonged to three different monumental tombs of munerarii, commemorating specific games sponsored by them, while the stelae were set up for single gladiators after their deaths. An analysis of the style of their execution indicates that the reliefs were produced in the second half of the second century AD. The iconography and composition of the gladiatorial combats depicted on these reliefs seem to have been influenced by a specific Hellenic view of the games, while the venatio scenes emphasise the richness of the show. In total, the material may contribute to a better understanding of the reception and transformation of the munera in the Greek East.