Ancient Roman Bronze Gladiator's Amulet shaped as Short Sword - 'Gladius' - 42 mm

"Ancient Roman Bronze Amulet in the Form of a Gladius

Culture / Period: Ancient Roman
Date / Period: 1st–2nd century A.D.
Material: Bronze
Dimensions: 42 mm
Condition: Good condition

No shipping outside the European Union. Due to complex export regulations concerning cultural goods, this item cannot be shipped outside the EU. Please ensure you have a delivery address within the European Union before placing a bid.

Provenance information:
Object Registration ID: 737
The current owner purchased this object from a reputable Dutch numismatic auction house in Schiedam, the Netherlands. Due to privacy regulations, the name of the previous owner could not be disclosed. No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available from the previous owner.

Background Information:
This cast bronze amulet is modelled in the form of a gladius, the iconic short sword of the Roman army. The distinctive spherical pommel, short grip, and tapering blade closely resemble the standard sidearm carried by Roman legionaries during the Imperial period. The perforation through the blade indicates that the object was intended to be suspended or worn as a pendant.

Miniature weapon amulets were popular throughout the Roman Empire and served as symbols of strength, courage, protection, and military identity. Although inspired by military equipment, they were not necessarily worn only by soldiers. Such pendants could also be owned by civilians, children, or devotees seeking the protective qualities associated with Roman arms. Similar miniature swords are known from settlements, forts, and civilian sites across the Empire.

The gladius itself was the principal close-combat weapon of the Roman legion from the late Republic through the early Imperial period. Its effectiveness became closely associated with Roman military success, and its form became an enduring symbol of Roman discipline and authority. Small representations of the weapon therefore carried both practical and symbolic significance.

Dating to the 1st–2nd century A.D., this amulet belongs to the height of the Roman Imperial period, when miniature bronze pendants formed part of everyday personal adornment and religious practice. It provides a direct and tangible connection to the ancient world, where objects of this kind combined symbolic protection with the prestige of Rome's military tradition."