Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Age of Myths, Gods and Empires => Topic started by: Easy E on 02 October 2024, 05:06:22 PM
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Greetings all,
I all ready have a pretty big collection of gladiators. However, my collection was mostly from Crusader, and a couple of chariots from Old Glory.
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5todpqT_rUJxQlGjOv2RETYGaV_7DI-bEE3CYtY2vbiUHPKH_g6lsJaUcnEuNmU6j6PIIlUKjB_QFgHLWCbot9haUb-O7_GzOBbmjRsVdiZNfM2kO5o6EvTRAi531qEn4dGI4ePltAafmwsx9bl8p-U61L8mYf5FcJIFa_MnrKEJg3DqfwU6F8RrZA8/w640-h374/IMG_2036.HEIC)
For some reason, I felt the need to pick-up the 3D printed gladiators from Wargames Atlantics Digital range. I had them printed and shipped to me by Only Games along with some other things.
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPEfAU5gk56u4OJ2EgPYqCqofW329F0yfF-ZwXo66CC33fryy9Bp2DWm0YaGbEbPMT2hSU7lKPNJLN0n3_J4nun-pZGCTedYA2677fxsAzlH8t14XTFGSJBOmPJCb1C-L-cpmRJadwU_MDIKhnqB83IWi9gWGArlTJy-MFrw7EFLNXZyACZ8DrRjujYM/s2754/IMG_4449.HEIC)
I did not have much experience with painting 3D miniatures at 28mm. Most of my work was at 6mm. I had a couple other concerns too; such as how these would fit in with my existing range, how they would look painting with Speedpaints, and if they would be too fragile for fame usage?
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ToVkdSryiCxPmQtrihwbYrD-FVMtQY28D9OMkDAHFx4_t6Vsn0hEdVWO0QbqZxRol0vxLFxW2D5nrCNwe8Y5MAgBE3WTYC0jexSVkBlurFYDlpxSi_dJRRsJAE17Em-KSUGDn0KKN7jWmSZs74KgUlc7Qj7foBV0nx5LBoSsDLaLUCQ5O-8vYGbr2zw/s2680/IMG_4455.HEIC)
Overall, I am pretty happy with them! If you are so inclined, you can read more about the process of getting these guys table and game ready and some comp shots on my blog.
https://bloodandspectacles.blogspot.com/2024/09/on-painting-desk-ludus-of-gladiators.html
Has anyone else gotten these printed up and painted? What are your thoughts?
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Great looking models and paint job
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Do you like gladiator movies Billy?
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look like great sculpts which have taken the paint really well.
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These do look good! I have also had a strong interest in the Crusader range of Gladiators, and I have found WA (especially Digital) so hit and miss (sometimes the proportions are just completely wrong and the weapons are absurdly out of scale - see their 101st Airborne range for prime examples). But these look really nice! Nice work!
Do you like gladiator movies Billy?
lol lol
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Glad these worked out for you. They look really good.
I'm in UK and ordering WA prints via Only-Games turned into a bit of a long trek. Meant to be shipped in two weeks but nothing after a month, then another month exchanging emails until package finally arrived. Lots of missing pieces. Pieces printed at different scales. Had some 28mm Pict cavalry where the horses were 28mm but the riders more like 18mm.
To be fair what was printed correctly was actually good and they refunded the full amount. I'm not sure I can be bothered to use OG again though. Reviews on Trustpilot are scathing, so doesn't seem my experience was a one off.
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Mr.E - I presume you’re already aware but I saw this today and thought of you!
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3XDHAX-2VOOpAdEK-XQNL6rLzrTam2I5hAhyphenhyphennuBIYzIeS7xJDQqnwDkXTCuVPL3MB8Z64pfBQuq4mdehIJ8LoNjh5TrXxdyCzPnt5G1TFw_XjzmVylGOngbti9G-tAqbsrlMtiBihcNXKQfOh7cThU6ZhRxHAy73qUMIdmqG0THzWnNWcwnitQ84KNGrZ/s720/unnamed.png)
Andrew
BeneathALeadMountain
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They look very nice, a lot of detail and good poses. However they are a bit too 'fantasy gladiator' and not historical gladiator for my tastes. But each to their own and I'm sure my grumbles are not shared by others!
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Oh dear. I had not seen that newer set. I do not typically use Female Gladiator types, but......
May need to expand the Ludus! lol
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At least they’re reasonably attired. No chain mail combat bikini here!
Andrew
BeneathALeadMountain
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At least they’re reasonably attired. No chain mail combat bikini here!
Andrew
BeneathALeadMountain
Personally I have no objection to chain mail combat bikinis. Have I missed something?
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Personally I have no objection to chain mail combat bikinis. Have I missed something?
Nor do I sir! I’m wearing one of mine as I type lol (a light, slinky, butted 18 gauge number - perfect for that cozy evening in).
Andrew
BeneathALeadMountain
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I think they went for a reasonable compromise on the upper body clothing seeing as the jury is still out on whether gladiatrices wore anything more than what the male gladiators wore. No, it's the flamboyant, fantasy skirt-like loincloths that don't quite seem right to me - I would have expected a simpler subligaculum.
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It has been a while since I have looked into is, but Female Gladiator bouts were a rare novelty and not a regular thing. More of a "comedy" act or warm-up than the real thing.
However, my memory on this matter is very hazy.
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IIRC the one contemporary image we have shows the gladiatrices wearing breast bands, similar to those worn by female bathers in similar-ish images.
I get the impression that true afficionados of gladiatorial events considered the use of women and dwarves as demeaning the intent of gladiatorial combat which was supposed to show the true Roman values of skill at arms and stoicism in the face of death.
True Roman values for True Romans, brought to you by the Aventine Guild of Millers! lol
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Actually the one image we have that unequivocally shows female gladiators seems to show them bare-chested, although the image itself is in poor condition. The one image we have of women in the breastband (the so-called 'bikini girls' mosaic) shows women involved in athletics or gymnastics, not gladiatorial combat and not bathing. Other images may or may not show female gladiators - some may be female ludus employees or slaves; they have been interpreted as both gladiatrices and not at various times! Interestingly the only written account that mentions anything on the subject describes a female bestiarius or venatore (iirc) with one covered and one uncovered breast.
Unless more images are found that clearly show identifiable female gladiators then either covered or uncovered would be historically accurate.
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reading that post, the look on your avatar image took on a different expression...
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Somewhat awkward juxtaposition I'll grant you. Oops.
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You might be thinking of this one, the Halicarnassus carving, which doesn't show too much. Note though that the names are "Amazon" and "Achillia", which probably means that this was a recreaction/performance (with two women) of the single combat between Achilles and Penthesilea.
Also note that the word "gladiatrix" didn't exist in actual ancient Roman sources.
(https://media.gettyimages.com/id/122213857/photo/roman-civilization-relief-portraying-fight-between-female-gladiators.jpg?s=1024x1024&w=gi&k=20&c=fAAgAI9LS2KherWUI-Y3LBHt9UR5SzdDs0VCxtpeMQE=)
Actually the one image we have that unequivocally shows female gladiators seems to show them bare-chested, although the image itself is in poor condition. The one image we have of women in the breastband (the so-called 'bikini girls' mosaic) shows women involved in athletics or gymnastics, not gladiatorial combat and not bathing. Other images may or may not show female gladiators - some may be female ludus employees or slaves; they have been interpreted as both gladiatrices and not at various times! Interestingly the only written account that mentions anything on the subject describes a female bestiarius or venatore (iirc) with one covered and one uncovered breast.
Unless more images are found that clearly show identifiable female gladiators then either covered or uncovered would be historically accurate.
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Yes you're right, that's the very image I was referring to; as I said, it's not in the best of conditions but from what archaeologists who've actually examined it have said, there appears to be no indications of chest covering. I don't completely dismiss the unsupported hypothesis that these two were reenacting the Achilles/Penthesilia myth but, given that we can't even identify what type of gladiators they were beyond the obvious scutarii, it seems premature to assume their names had significance together, beyond being a typical type of stage name that a gladiator might use.
I also take your point about 'gladiatrix' although I would point out that the more technically accurate 'ludia' or 'mulieres' are less well known and might require more explanation.
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They probably don't have a type as it could've been an exhibition fight. The word at the top says they were released afterward so maybe it was a public announcement of sorts that these women who'd recently been seen in the arena weren't being put into normal gladiatorial duties. The two women are bareheaded to show their faces and the one of the left has a fashionable style for Roman women at the time. She also appears to be armed with a dagger, perhaps to avoid the audience seeing one of the fighters having a limb hacked off.
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That conclusion seems like a bit of a stretch to me. From every account that mentions female gladiators they seem to have been organised and fought exactly like the male gladiators - even to the absolute seriousness that the spectators and fighters treated the bout. Yes, I agree that the inscription indicates that both fighters were released but my interpretation is that they earned it - they fought each other to the point of exhaustion and, presumably, were rewarded for their bravery and skill. Also lets not forget that, although they were on the lowest rung of plebiean status (along with actors and prostitutes), these were professional entertainers/performers and, just like with the men, looking attractive was a big part of the job. I see nothing that would indicate these were anything other than professional gladiators in a serious fight.