Note 35: — VII.—GLADIATORS AND THE ARENA. (Wall-Case 109.)
Reading edition
A curious marble relief from Halikarnassos (No. 168; fig. 58) gives a vivid picture of an unusual form of gladiatorial combat, between two women. They are armed like the Samnites, but without helmets, and the fight seems to take place on a sort of platform on either side of which the head of a spectator is visible. Their names are given as Amazon and Achillia, and above their heads is inscribed in Greek "discharged," ἀπελύθησαν. It is known that women fought in the arena under the Empire35; but under Septimius Severus (193-211) so much scandal was caused by a specially furious combat of a large number of female gladiators that such exhibitions were forbidden.36