Height: 10.200 cm
Diameter: 5.000 cm (rim)

Disch Collection

GR 1881.6-24.1

Room 70: Roman Empire

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Gladiators

Glass dropper-flask in the form of a secutor helmet

A branch of the art industry evolved to exploit the popularity of gladiators. Shops sold every day utensils with scenes of contest in the amphitheatre. The fans bought a variety of such items - knives, pocket mirrors, lamps and pottery for example - so they could take home a souvenir of their heroes.

This small glass flask was made in the shape of the helmet of a secutor gladiator. The secutor was a category of gladiator specially designed as a match for the retiarius, who fought with net and trident. The helmet has distinctive small eye-holes and smooth low ridge. The actual helmet completely covered the face for a good reason; the thin prongs of the trident would easily penetrate a visor grating. However, it must have limited the wearer's vision, and been very uncomfortable to wear. As a secutor's opponent was armed with a net, it seems suitable that his helmet resembles a fish's head.

The small flask, made by a glass-blowing workshop in Cologne, is designed as a perfume dropper.