Ancient Roman Bronze Gladiatoral Trident (Fuscina) - Retarius
14
days
22
hours
05
minutes
52
seconds
Current bid
€ 30
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 1,300 - € 1,600
16 other people are watching this object
 Bidder 0558 | €30 | |
|---|---|---|
 Bidder 6423 | €25 | |
| Bidder 6423 | €20 | |
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Ancient Roman bronze gladiatorial trident (fuscina) used by a Retarius, dating to the 1st–2nd century AD, mounted on a modern marble base with a display stand included, in good condition.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Very rare ancient Roman iron Trident (fuscina), known to be used in Gladiatorial combat by a Retarius.
The piece is forged with three long tines, each terminating in a barbed point, designed to secure or disable an opponent when combined with a net. The socketed trident is displayed on a modern marble stone base (not fixed). The display stand will be included in the sale.
A rare and evocative object, closely linked to Roman Gladiatorial combat and arena culture, well suited to collectors of Roman militaria or classical antiquities.
Size trident: ± 25 cm
Width trident: ± 10,4 cm
Display: ± 85 x 85 x 51 mm
Good and solid condition. The surface displays a stable, heavily patinated iron texture with corrosion, consistent with age and use.
Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format).
The Retarius is a Gladiator type which used a net and trident spear. The retiarius relied on agility and skill to ensnare opponents with the net, then attack with the trident. They often faced heavily armoured opponents, such as the secutor or murmillo, whose armour made close combat challenging; the retiarius aimed to keep distance, using the net and trident to control the fight. The retarius role added variety and excitement to gladiatorial combat, showcasing skill and quickness over brute force.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Very rare ancient Roman iron Trident (fuscina), known to be used in Gladiatorial combat by a Retarius.
The piece is forged with three long tines, each terminating in a barbed point, designed to secure or disable an opponent when combined with a net. The socketed trident is displayed on a modern marble stone base (not fixed). The display stand will be included in the sale.
A rare and evocative object, closely linked to Roman Gladiatorial combat and arena culture, well suited to collectors of Roman militaria or classical antiquities.
Size trident: ± 25 cm
Width trident: ± 10,4 cm
Display: ± 85 x 85 x 51 mm
Good and solid condition. The surface displays a stable, heavily patinated iron texture with corrosion, consistent with age and use.
Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format).
The Retarius is a Gladiator type which used a net and trident spear. The retiarius relied on agility and skill to ensnare opponents with the net, then attack with the trident. They often faced heavily armoured opponents, such as the secutor or murmillo, whose armour made close combat challenging; the retiarius aimed to keep distance, using the net and trident to control the fight. The retarius role added variety and excitement to gladiatorial combat, showcasing skill and quickness over brute force.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Details
Culture
Ancient Roman
Century/ Timeframe
1st-2nd century AD
Name of object
Gladiatoral Trident (Fuscina) - Retarius
Acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Year acquired
2025
Material
Bronze
Country acquired from
Belgium
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Previous owner - year acquired
2025
Previous owner - country acquired from
Belgium
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Sold by
Disclaimer
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
