A Gladiators graffiti in Pompeii

Sometimes, the smallest objects hide the most surprising stories.

One of the magnets in our shop depicts two gladiators facing off. At first glance, it might seem like just a decorative drawing… but it actually reproduces an authentic piece of graffiti from Pompeii that records the outcome of a fight that took place almost two thousand years ago.

And the story behind it is worth knowing.

A gladiatorial combat engraved on the wall of Pompeii

In the streets of ancient Pompeii, people didn't just trade, stroll, or discuss politics. They also talked—and talked a lot—about gladiators.

As is the case today with great athletes, the most famous gladiators had followers, admirers... and also those who wanted to leave a record of their feats.

One of those traces has reached us in the form of graffiti engraved on a wall , where someone drew two fighters facing each other and noted the result of their fight.

That graffiti is cataloged as CIL IV 1422 and represents the confrontation between two gladiators: Asteropeus and Oceneanus .

Above each figure appears an inscription that summarizes the combatants' career and the outcome of the duel.

The text says:

ASTEROPEVS NERONIANVS CVII V
OCENEA(N)VS LVI M

Its translation would be approximately:

Asteropeus , from Nero's school
107 victories — he won

Oceananus
56 victories — pardoned

The final letters explain the outcome of the fight:

• V means vicit , “conquered”.
• M stands for missus , meaning that the defeated gladiator was pardoned and left the arena alive .

This shows us something very interesting: the graffiti artist wasn't simply drawing a fight scene. He was recording the outcome of the fight , almost like a game scoreboard.

Asteropeus: a gladiator with over one hundred victories

One of the most striking details of this inscription is the number that accompanies the name of Asteropeus: CVII , that is, 107 victories . (Top left)

For a gladiator, accumulating more than one hundred victories was extraordinary. Most fighters did not survive that many encounters.

The graffiti also indicates that Asteropeus belonged to Nero's gladiator school , probably a ludus linked to shows organized during the emperor's reign.

We don't know much more about his life, but the fact that someone decided to record his fight on a wall suggests that he was a well-known fighter among fans .

Two different types of gladiators

The drawing also allows us to identify the types of gladiators who participated in the combat.

The Romans used to pit fighters with different weapons and equipment against each other in the arena to make the fight more interesting.

The hoplomachus

The gladiator on the left is usually identified as a hoplomachus .

This type of fighter was inspired by Greek hoplites and was characterized by wearing:

• lance
• small, round shield
• helmet with crest
• leg protectors

He was a relatively light gladiator, who relied on the mobility and accuracy of his spear .

The murmur

The gladiator on the right corresponds to the type known as a murmillo .

Their equipment was heavier and included:

• large rectangular shield
• short sword
• robust helmet
• arm and leg protection

The murmillo fought more defensively, protecting itself behind its large shield and looking for the opportune moment to attack.

This type of confrontation was very common in gladiatorial games.

The hoplomachus, with his spear and small shield, had greater range and mobility .
The murmillo, on the other hand, had more solid protection thanks to its large shield.

The outcome often depended on the skill of each fighter… and also on the favor of the public.

In this case, the graffiti tells us that Asteropeus emerged victorious , while his rival Oceneanus was spared .

Graffiti: the voice of the fans

The most fascinating thing about this drawing is that it wasn't done by an official artist.

It is a graffiti , a spontaneous mark made by someone who wanted to remember that fight.

Thousands of graffiti have been found in Pompeii: political messages, declarations of love, jokes, advertisements… and also scenes of gladiators (image above)

For the city's inhabitants, the arena fights were one of the great spectacles of the time , and these drawings show us the extent to which they were part of everyday life.

We could say that this graffiti is the Roman equivalent of writing the result of a game on a wall .

A small drawing that has survived two thousand years

Today, almost two thousand years after the eruption of Vesuvius, this simple drawing continues to tell us a story.

It tells us about the popularity of gladiators, the fights that thrilled the public, and the fans who wanted to leave a record of what they had seen.

A small "prank"... turned into a living testimony of the Roman world.

If you want to see our magnet, you can find it here.

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