Q&A

Were there female gladiators in ancient Rome?

Although gladiatorial combat was predominantly a male domain, female gladiators did exist. They were mostly slaves or prisoners of war, and catered to audiences with a taste for the unusual.

The promoters of female gladiators often took inspiration from the ancient Greek myths of the Amazons – legendary single-breasted female warriors. For instance, the poet Juvenal tells us that a female gladiator called Mevia tried to emulate the fearsome fighters by hunting beasts in the ring “with spear in hand and breast exposed”.

We know