Amazon And Achillia: Two Female Gladiators Of Ancient Rome
The British MuseumA relief depicting female gladiators Amazon and Achillia from the second century C.E.
Though all the gladiators on this list so far are men, female gladiators did exist. It was not seen as proper for women to fight — as evidenced by laws attempting to ban or restrict their participation — but archaeological evidence exists that suggests women became gladiators anyway.
Two of the most famous examples of female gladiators are Amazon and Achillia, stage names probably chosen as a nod to the story of Achilles and the Amazon queen Penthesilea. Their likeness was seemingly documented in a second-century relief that was discovered in Bodrum, Türkiye.
In the relief, the women appear to be murmillo or samnite gladiators, based on the shields and swords they’re yielding. They also appear to have helmets resting at their feet, though it’s difficult to tell what kind of helmets they are.
The relief also includes their stage names and the inscription stans missus, which means that they fought to a draw.
Though not much else is known about Amazon and Achillia — such as their real names or even if the relief is showing something else entirely — other historical evidence supports the idea that female gladiators existed.
In 11 C.E., the Senate banned women under the age of 20 from becoming gladiators. And Emperor Septimius Severus banned female gladiators outright during his reign from 193 to 211 C.E. Yet, it appears that women who were determined enough found ways to fight regardless.
