'Rare' Roman Knife Handle Featuring Mighty Gladiator With 'Unlucky' Trait Discovered in England

Archeologists have a rare Roman discovery from England under their belt. Divers found what they believe to be a 2,000-year-old Roman knife handle in the River Tyne near Corbridge in Northumberland, The Independent reported. The artifact is set to go on display soon at Hadrian’s Wall. The copper alloy handle features what researchers believe is a gladiator sporting a helmet and holding a shield.

Experts believe that the knife handle is evidence of the popularity gladiators enjoyed in Roman England, The Independent reported. "It provides new proof that gladiators' celebrity status extended to the very edge of the Roman empire," English Heritage, a charity managing several historical sites in England explained. Researchers believe that the gladiator could be based on a real-life fighter.

The gladiator on the knife appears to be left-handed, Live Science reported. According to the researchers, this detail implies that the figure on the knife was based on a real-life person. In Roman culture, being left-handed is considered to be unlucky. A symbolic illustration on a likely souvenir would not feature someone left-handed, as per experts. Hence, researchers think the figure was based on a real-life individual, who trained to fight with his left hand, for a unique advantage. 

In ancient Rome, gladiators were slaves or criminals who participated in physical fights to entertain the public, Live Science reported. The fighting events were usually organized by Roman elites, including the emperor, to show off their wealth. Many of these fights ended in deaths for one of the parties.

From 105 B.C. to A.D. 404 gladiator fights were organized in the Roman Empire. 

The discovery has been regarded as 'rare' by experts because Roman memorabilia is a hard commodity to find in Britain, Live Science reported. The knife handle has generated a lot of intrigue in the public, which experts credit to the popularity of these fighters.

"Even now, almost two thousand years later, the fascination around gladiators persists and has expanded even further into modern popular culture, as evidenced by the excitement surrounding the new Gladiator film sequel,"  Frances McIntosh, English Heritage's Collections Curator for Hadrian's Wall and the North East added.