The Roman legions may today be the most recognised figure from the Roman world, but the gladiator must surely not be far behind. Films like Spartacus (1960), and Gladiator (2000) help to keep the image alive, but the idea of blood sports where men fought one another, sometimes to the death, continues to fascinate many. In fact gladiatorial combats were big business, with schools set up to train fighters and promotors eager to lay on games where they might display their skills. Here Italeri have presented us with the arena for a ludus gladiatorius, or gladiatorial school.
There can be no prizes for guessing what one set of figures are to be found in this set, although there is also a surprise second set:
There is much to like about the Italeri set of gladiators, although the chariot is a rather large prop that is not typical of gladiatorial combat, and the beasts are out of place as technically those that fought them were not gladiators but bestiarii. There are not a large number of figures in the set, but here you get two, which is plenty. A big question mark must be raised over the old Esci Roman Legion however. Apart from the fact that they too are Romans, why are they here? There seems no particularly obvious reason. Legionnaires in full battle dress did not turn up at gladiator schools any more than they paraded around the streets and arenas of the empire, despite what some films like to suggest. Schools certainly had guards, or handlers if you will, but they were not dressed as legionaries. Whoever made the diorama shown on the box had to face the same question, and apart from showing the officer as a spectator along with a couple of his men, they have ignored this set - simply placing a handful outside the arena doing nothing. We are inclined to do the same.
The only other component in this set is also by far the most important; the arena. It is a tremendous model, made with laser-cut MDF and, unusually, actually portraying something wooden. We find a good-sized arena floor surrounded by a wall and fence, and beyond that basic seating around half of it, including a sheltered VIP section. Also included is a cage from where men or animals can be released into the arena by means of some gates. It is a great model as always, and as far as we can tell pretty authentic, though remains of schools are rare today. Unless you are prepared to pay very big money for one of the very rare Atlantic Colosseum models, this is about the first time you have been able to obtain a proper location in which to display your gladiator figures, and a very suitable location it is too. We loved this model, with excellent build quality and such a complex design. It is both original and appealing, and all it lacks is a few staff or visitors to occupy those seats.
The usual made-up diorama is another excellent piece of model making. The figures are nicely painted and the arena is also very well finished. In an unusual move by this stage, the modeller has only added a textured base and a few trees to the finished piece; other than that you see what you get in the box.
This is one of those sets where the price alone seems worth it for the arena. Like the rest of the range, the arena is made by Sarissa, who also sell their products direct, but packaged with the gladiators makes this a great presentation set. The Esci legionnaires seem pointless, but other than that this is a very attractive set.