Interactive Ancient History

The Gladiator in Pompeii...

Pompeii had a well established Gladiatorial School evidenced by excavations that have found many items that shed light on both the life of a gladiator and the public reaction to them.

Graffiti on walls give us many details about both the style of gladiators in Pompeii and the public opinion on them. (See our Pompeii Graffiti Research Kit).

There was a thriving industry in gladiator related souvenirs, with utensils and pottery items including oil lamps embossed with images of the figures.

We have access to a range of Gladiator helmets that would suit hands on activities in the classroom. The students will get to see the dramatic size of the helmets and in wearing the helmet experiencing what it may have been like to fight in the Gladiatorial arena. Well suited to an interactive lesson on life in ancient Pompeii. A great lesson follow up to our Pompeii Graffiti Research Kit.

The Secutor Herculaneum

The Secutor was also known as the Contraretiarus and was specifically designed to combat the Retarius in the Gladiatorial Arena. (Retarius= no armour but trident and net).

The smooth, rounded and streamlines helmet of the Secutor with its small eye holes and fin like crest looked much like a fishes head. This well suited its role in combat against the Retarius as a fisherman with is net and trident.

The tactics of the Secutor were to use his large shield to get in close and attack with his sword, but had to do so swiftly before he tired from the weight of his armour, lack of vision and restricted air flow into his helmet. The Retarius on the other hand would be swift footed intending to avoid the Secutor and get out of his range or line of sight so as to get his net over him to restrict his movement. Some Secutors instead of a shield would have a large curved blade attached to their left hand that would be used to slash the net of the Retarius.

Secutor Herculaneum Helmet - $380.00AUD plus P&H

SPECIAL PRICE $210.00

This is cost price!

The Hoplomachus

Hoplomachus Helmet - $399.00AUD plus P&H - SOLD

Roman Caligae

Roman Studded soldiers sandals

Roman soldiers wore sandals made from leather, with a cotton "sock" or "Stocking" style lining. The soles of the sandals were studded to increase grip for the soldiers both on the march and in battle. These sandals are made from quality leather.

In Stock size 8 $140.00AUD plus P&H (one pair in stock)
(Normally $160.00)

Roman Helmet - Imperial Gallic G

The Roman helmet was a task designed helmet specifically designed to suit the tactics of the Roman army. Notice the cheek guards to protect the face, yet still allowing visibility, the ear guards to protect the ears but still leave them open so as to hear their commanding officer, the large neck guard with carrying handle, the brow guard to protect from blows to the front of the head and the attachment on the peak for the centurions plume to be attached.

$250.00AUD plus P&H (One in stock)
(Normally $270.00)

A reproduction of a Roman Military Diploma and Citizenship. This is a casting (resin) of a bronze plaque awarded to a Roman soldier upon retirement recognising his service in the Roman Army and awarding him Roman citizenship. (Particularly applicable to soldiers drawn into army service from foreign nations.

One plaque double sided - Two supplied so that both sides can be displayed at once.
Small display case supplied. Each plaque 35 x 25mm.

$34.95AUD plus P&H Order # RMD01

Roman Wax Writing Tablet

Roman Wax Tablets/Tabulae/Diptychs were used for all forms of writing where the text was to be of no great length. The tablets were made often of wood (though sometimes of ivory) and had a hollowed out section into which was poured molten wax, which could then when hardened, be written upon with a metal or bone stylus. The text could then be erased using the flat end of the stylus and then rewritten upon. This form of tablet was commonly used to prepare political speeches, poems and so forth. Some more elaborate versions had multiple wooden pages. The pages of ours are bound with leather. Some Diptychs had a hole on the side opposite the hinge that would allow a string to be inserted and a seal applied. Examples were found at Vindolander at Hadrian's wall in northern England and images can still be seen today in the frescoes of Pompeii in the famous portrait of Terentius Neo and his wife...his wife holds a "Diptych" with a stylus to her mouth while he holds a rolled scroll.

Replica Roman Wax Tablet

$59.95AUD plus P&H QUOTE RRWT1

Roman Scroll #1 NEW!

Roman Scroll Kit - Papyrus Scroll 300mm x 500mm

Some variance in size will occur due to size of available papyrus.

Rolled papyrus scrolls were used in ancient Rome, many were stored in private and public libraries. Some were colour coded while others had small wooden tags attached to the end to identify their contents.

This Scroll is ready to be written upon.

$29.95AUD plus P&H QUOTE RS1

Roman Scroll #2 NEW!

Roman Scroll kit #2 - Double roll A4 size blank papyrus

The scroll is ready to be written upon.

$29.95AUD plus P&H QUOTE RS2

Roman Inkwell NEW!

Replica Roman Inkwell - Black Glazed Gaulish Samianware style.

Available in two formats:

"Aged Inscribed" inscribed with original owners name as found 1st-3rd century AD.
$19.95AUD plus P&H Order#RI/I

"New" Black glazed as originally made.
$19.95AUD plus P&H Order#RI/O

Size 50mmH x 58mmW approx.

Roman Tenth Legion Brick

Legio Fretensis

ROMAN LEGIONARY STAMPED BRICK FROM THE ROMAN TENTH LEGION THAT SACKED JERUSALEM IN 70AD. The Roman Legions stamped many of their bricks, including paving stones and sometimes even roof tiles and pipes.
The Roman Tenth Legion that occupied Judea for over 150 years stamped many bricks and pavers, some of them also bearing the symbol of a "pig" to great annoyance of the Jews.This brick is a recreation of an actual brick found in Jerusalem. The "Fretensis" is a title the Tenth Legion bore after its position earlier of protecting the straights of Messina. The brick is a fragment 130x130x25mm approximately.

A REPRODUCTION OF A LEGIO X FRETENSIS BRICK WITH STAMP. 
$29.95AUD plus P&H. Code BRXF

Roman "Plantar Pedis" Brick NEW!

Roman Legio XIIIG

The Roman XIIIIG Legion was formed in 41BC by Octavian, the suffix "G" standing for "Gemina" meaning twin, most likely asserting that this legion was formed by combining a portion of two previous legions. This legion fought in the battle of Alesia and went on to fight and eventually base itself in Britain. This brick stamped in the "Plantar Pedis" style, that is in the shape of a Roman sandal is from the later 3rd century portion of the Legion while it was in Britain. The XIIII iscorrect in form in that the format XIV was not used to signify the number fourteen until much later.

REPRODUCTION ROMAN XIIIIG BRICK

$29.95AUD Plus P&H Code BR14

We also have available

castings of bricks from Nebuchadnezzar and Sennacherib.

Amphora

Replica amphorae handmade and fired in a wood fired kiln. 180mm high. Amphora were used all over the Mediterranean world to store and transport goods.

$19.95AUD plus P&H QUOTE AMPH1

Note: Colour variations - Most stock do not have the "aged" look.

Many of our pottery items are handmade in Israel using

techniques used for thousands of years. The pottery

items are handmade and fired in a wood fired kiln.

Pompeii Graffiti Research Project

A research project for the senior curriculum.....
A set of 5 replica graffiti / inscriptions based on actual items from the walls of Pompeii. The object of the project is to divide your class into 5 groups, have each group research their allocated graffiti or inscription based on the questions and prompts supplied with the kit. They would then do a group report based on their findings. Each group does a presentation of their findings, the project is complete when the whole class then does a full report on what they have learned about graffiti and inscriptions in Pompeii.

 $19.95AUD plus P&H QUOTE PGRP1

Coins of Ancient Rome

Denarius of the 12 Caesars

12 Coins replicas from Ancient Rome for the 12 Caesars from Julius

Caesar in 44BC to Domitian in 96AD. Made by a professional medal

maker in the US using originals from the British Museum and private collections

 $44.95AUD plus P&H QUOTE CAR12C

Coins of Ancient Rome & Greece

Images of Historical Leaders of the Ancient World

A set of 6 coins representing Alexander the Great; Julius Caesar; Cleopatra VII; Mark Antony; Augustus & Nero.

$39.95AUD plus P&H QUOTE CARG

Roman Coins Set 1

Invasion of Britain

A set of two replica coins
- Denarius of Caesar (Julius)
- Gold Stater of Catuvellauni

$15.95AUD plus P&H QUOTE RCIB1

Roman Coins Set 2

The Romans in Britain

A set of two replica coins
-Denarius of Vespasian
- Aureus of Domitian

$15.95AUD plus P&H QUOTE RCRIB

Roman Coins Set 3

Military Campaigns & Rebellion

A set of two replica coins
-Sestertius of Nero
- Denarius of Titus

$15.95AUD plus P&H QUOTE RCCB

Roman Coins Set 4

The Roman Occupation

A set of three replica coins
-Dupondius of Hadrian
- Aureus of Caludius
- As of Claudius

$16.95AUD plus P&H QUOTE RCRO

Each of these coin sets (sets 1-4)
Come in a foldout presentation/display folder with description of the coins/time charts & or time frame description. All coins are full size replicas of originals from the Ashmolean Museum and are double sided.

Gladiator Gaming Token

from the time of Caesar Augustus 27BC - 14AD. This token was used to enetr a sporting arena such as a gladiatorial fight.15mm.

$5.95AUD plus P&H QUOTE GGT1

A set of three jewelery moulds. The largest cuboid mould has impressions on all four sides  and would have been used for paste (faience) or glass casting. The smaller two would most likey have been used for gold or silver. Some of the mould are reproduced in their as found broken form, some with residue of gold or faience paste. Cast from the originals.

$44.95AUD plus P&H QUOTE RJMS1

See our range of Roman Armour

at: www.esford.com

Check out their huge range of replica armour suitable for the collector or reenactor

Contact us for our special prices!

All our amour requires payment in full at time of ordering.
(NO cheques - NO exceptions!)