Oljenka z upodobitvijo gladiatorja iz Emone

In 2024, archaeological excavations, carried out in the area envisaged for the construction of the Emonika residential complex in Ljubljana, revealed the previously unresearched segment of the northern burial grounds of the Roman colony of Emona (Colonia Iulia Emona). In one of the graves, an oil lamp was unearthed, bearing the depiction of a murmillo-type gladiator (also mirmillo or myrmillo) and an inscription field in the shape of a tabula ansata, featuring a letter B. The article aims to examine the significance and context of this extraordinary find.