Lets hear it for the left handed gladiators!

Although I am a right-hander myself, I've been blessed/plagued by left-handers my whole life. My dad, wife, numerous friends and bosses - all of them of the sinister persuasion.

Anyway, it is always a joy To find references to lefties from the ancient world. I saw this (probably 2nd C AD) funerary inscription during the week in the University College Dublin Classics Museum. I thought it might be a bit of inspiration for all those gladiator fans out there.

TO THE SPIRITS OF THE DEPARTED

AND TO LYCUS

A LEFT-HANDED MURMILLO

WHO OBTAINED HIS FREEDOM AFTER IIII FIGHTS.

LONGINAS, A FREEDMAN AND SECUTOR

SET THIS UP FOR HIS WELL-DESERVING COMRADE