April 19, 2012 - A small bronze statue dating back 2,000 years may be that of a female gladiator, a victorious one at that, suggests a new discovery.
If confirmed the statue would represent only the 2nd depiction of a female gladiator acknowledged to exist.
The gladiator statue exhibits a topless girl, wearing only a loincloth and a bandage about her left knee. Her hair is prolonged, although neat, and in the air she raises what the researcher, Alfonso Manas of the College of Granada, believes is a sica, a short curved sword used by gladiators. The gesture she gives is a "salute to the people, to the crowd," Manas explained, an action carried out by victorious gladiators at the conclude of a fight.
The feminine fighter is looking down at the floor, presumably at her fallen opponent.
