Queens of Combat: Rome's Female Gladiators

Synopsis

What if women were hidden among the ranks of Ancient Rome’s fearsome gladiators? A group of experts searches for evidence to prove women once fought in the arena just like men. Combining history, archaeology, and forensic investigation, journey across Europe in a quest for answers. If a female gladiator's existence can be proven definitively, what can we learn about their lives?

Director

Susannah Ward

Studio

PBS

Released

28 January 2026

Genres

Documentary, History