Italian archaeologists recently unearthed ancient Roman tombs during the excavation of a necropolis – including one bearing the epitaph of a gladiator ... an ancient Roman helmet turned up ...

Bloody, brutal but popular, gladiatorial contests are often seen as the dark side of Roman ... of gladiator, each with their own unique weapons. The Mirmillones were heavily armed and wore helmets ...

The deceased were interred there in several ways, including funerary urns set within about 20 plastered niches cut into the walls ...