Avenches – Roman Museum – Permanent Exhibition

First Floor Theatre, Games and Music
the dancers did not wear any masks and sang the verses themselves. Instead of
referring to Greek mythology, the subjects presented were based on real events
and were inspired by everyday life. In general, the performances were comic and
sometimes even vulgar.
Display case 11
1. Mosaic depicting the scene of a play, with two actors, one of whom is wearing a comic
mask representing a young girl.
Display case 12
1. Funerary mask of a tragic heroine, limestone. Early 2nd century AD.
2. Satyr mask on a marble relief. Last quarter of the 1st century AD.
3. Terra-cotta antefix decorated with a mask.
4. Ivory box in the shape of a comic mask. 1st – 2nd centuries AD.
5. Bronze statuette of tragic actor (p. 28, 1); his belt shows an inscription, probably
Dovecus which might be his name. Early 3rd century AD. Catalogue of inscriptions: no. 22.
6-9. Medallions of various terra-cotta oil lamps decorated with comic masks (1).
In the amphitheatre one watched gladiatorial combat (munera) where two men
fought to the death (display case 13, nos. 1-9) to the sound of horns or organs
(display case 14, no. 7). As a rule, gladiators were slaves, prisoners of war, criminals
sentenced to death or young men from noble families who had fallen from grace
and had been attracted by fame and easy money. They were trained in barracks
specifically built for that purpose (ludi).
Hunting scenes (venationes) (display case 13, no. 11) were also staged in sets
representing wilderness. Wild animals were set on each other, for instance large
game on dear, lions (display case 13, no. 12) on tigers, bears on bulls (display case 13,
no. 10), or men on animals such as bulls, bears, panthers, tigers or lions.
The circus was another form of entertainment, but so far no such structure has
been discovered at Aventicum. A circus was mainly used for chariot races, but also
for sports competitions such as boxing, wrestling or running.
Display case 13
1. Fighting gladiator (2). Lead glazed pottery decoration, originally part of a vessel.
Mid 1st century AD.
2. Ivory handle of a flick knife decorated with two gladiators (p. 30, 1). 3rd century AD.
3. Gladiator. Bronze statuette. 2nd – 3rd centuries AD.
4. Gladiator. Bronze fitting.
5. Fragment of glass goblet, depicting scenes of gladiatorial combat. Two names of
gladiators are partly preserved: (Colu)mbus and (Calam)us.
6. Fragment of glass goblet, depicting scenes of gladiatorial combat. Three names are
partly preserved (Calam)us, Orie(n)s and Petr(aites).
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First Floor
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