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Spoliarium: The Analogy of Dead Gladiators

This document provides an explanation of Juan Luna's painting "Spoliarium" and different interpretations of it. The painting depicts Roman slaves collecting and dragging the corpses of dead gladiators after battles in the Roman Colosseum. Some see the painting as representing the Philippines under Spanish rule, with the corpses as Filipinos and the crowd as corrupt Spanish figures exploiting the country. The painting also symbolizes Luna's vision of future suffering in the Philippines. It notably resembles the aftermath of Ninoy Aquino's assassination upon his return.

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Kate Magpayo
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2K views5 pages

Spoliarium: The Analogy of Dead Gladiators

This document provides an explanation of Juan Luna's painting "Spoliarium" and different interpretations of it. The painting depicts Roman slaves collecting and dragging the corpses of dead gladiators after battles in the Roman Colosseum. Some see the painting as representing the Philippines under Spanish rule, with the corpses as Filipinos and the crowd as corrupt Spanish figures exploiting the country. The painting also symbolizes Luna's vision of future suffering in the Philippines. It notably resembles the aftermath of Ninoy Aquino's assassination upon his return.

Uploaded by

Kate Magpayo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ABSTRACT

This handout will provide a profound explanation of


the Spoliarium and the different interpretations
presented by notable personas.
SPOLIARIUM: THE Monsur Karlos Hernandez
1B - BPA
ANALOGY OF DEAD
GLADIATORS
The Handout
Spoliarium: The Analogy of Dead Gladiators

What is Spoliarium in the Roman Culture?


Spoliarium – A Latin word that refers to “a holding area in the Roman Colosseum where the
corpses are brought”
In the Roman Culture, the battle of gladiators (sometimes, including animals) is a form of
entertainment to the roman community.
If a gladiator died in the arena, a ceremony will start with a man dressed like a Charon and he
would claim the body (soul).
Charon: Served as a Ferryman to mortal souls travelling to the underworld
The weapon of the gladiator known as “gladius” will be collected and gathered.
A group of Roman slaves and workers will collect the corpses. They will use chains and hooks in
dragging the dead body to the Spoliarium. However, if the fallen gladiator is a legendary
gladiator, they will use a stretcher to carry the fallen gladiator, entering the “Porta Libitinaria”
(the entrance to Libitina)
Libitina: The Roman goddess of Burial and funeral. Those who collected the corpses are call
Libitinarii or “Ahente ng Funeraria”
Totenkammer: The chamber of Death. A german professor used this term to describe the
Spoliarium.
Once the corpse is in the Spoliarium, the body would be stripped from whatever armor or
protection that he still has. If it was a legendary gladiator, people would mingle and try to get a
drip of his blood because they believe that it holds an extraordinary power. If a gladiator is
considered as no one, it will have a lonely death. He would be treated worse than a dead animal
that died in the Arena.
Wild animals that died in the arena are butchered and sold as an Exotic meat in the Roman
Market.
It shows the indifference and the brutality of Human Race.

Spoliarium: The Painting


Who is Juan Luna?
Juan Luna – The most famous and celebrated Filipino artist. As an artist, he was known for his
dynamic and unique style. His works are known as principal examples of romanticism and realism
school of arts.
- Juan Luna is also a political analyst and a revolutionary who was an active participant in the
Philippine Revolutionary in the 19th Century.
- Luna was called the Master of Color Composition
- The Spanish critics applauded him for his (1) great strategy, (2) rich imagination, and (3) grand
designs
Juan Luna’s Background
- Juan Novicio Luna was born on October 23, 1857 in the town of Badoc, Ilocos, Philippines.
- He was the third of seven children, to parents Don Joaquin Luna de San Pedro y Posadas and
Doña Laureana Novicio y Ancheta
- Luna’s interest in arts were instigated and fueled by his brother, Manuel Luna who was also a
skilled artist.
- Juan Luna married Paz Pardo de Tavera who was introduced by Jose Rizal.
Juan Luna’s other Works
- España y Filipinas (1886) - The painting is composed of two women. The brown skinned
woman represents a filipino woman while the woman in the red gown represents the Spain
that is in charge of leading the way
- The Death of Cleopatra (1881) - a silver medalist winner during the 1881 National
Exposition of Fine Arts in Madrid.

SPOLIARIUM
- This masterpiece won GOLD in the Madrid National Exposition de Bellas Artes in 1884.
- It was given to the Philippines by the Spanish Government on 1953. Due to its massive size,
the masterpiece was divided into four pieces for the transportation.
- The 4.22 x 7.675-meter oil on canvas is considered the largest painting in the country.
Spoliarium in the interpretation of the Filipino Intellectuals
- Behind the image of the gladiators, they saw a country yearning to be recognized of its own
achievement outside the shadow of its colonizer. They viewed the Spoliarium not only of the
Painter’s Vision but also the situation of the country under the Spanish rule.
- It is believed that the lady crying on the right side is the Mother Country or the Inang Bayan
that weeps for the fall of her country, the Philippines. The crowd on the left side is
considered as the Social Cancer or the Kanser sa Lipunan.

Components of the Spoliarium


- The crowd: The crowd can be found at the left side of the painting. They are also known as
the Roman slaves or workers. They are watching and waiting to collect the weapons and
armors left by fallen gladiators.
- The old man: The old man can be found at the right side of the painting carrying a torch as if
he was looking for his child.
- The Woman: The woman can be found at the right side of the painting together with the old
man. She is lying down and crying for her dead loved one.
- Fallen Gladiators and Roman Soldiers: It can be found at the middle of the painting where
the Fallen gladiators are being dragged by the Libitinarii. The Roman Soldiers drag the dead
bodies using chains and hooks. If it was a legendary gladiator, they will carry him with a
stretcher.
Luna’s Futuristic Vision
Written by: Joseph Reylan B. Viray

Luna’s Fascination on the Roman culture while staying in the metropolis created a masterpiece.
Other European artists view the Colleseum as the subject itself because of its architectural
beauty. Some only focused on the battle itself, and viewed the victory of Gladiators.
He viewed the Spoliarium differently. He saw the theatricality and the drama it possesses.
The fall of gladiators is considered as the “most heart-breaking” part of the battle because of
this was where defeat, agony, and pain rolled into the one. The cruelty/barbarism happened to
fulfill the standard of the ancient games.
Luna played with colors and used it as a technique to provoke emotions.

Three Interpretations of the Painting as mentioned in the written paper by Viray


1.The Spoliarium itself as a place where wastages are dumped could symbolize the Philippine
archipelago in the Spanish period.
- Spanish clergymen, government officials and workers who committed crime are dumped to rot
in the Philippines. This was the reason why Filipinos experienced oppression and sufferings from
Vile and Devious Spanish/European Characters.
2. The Philippines could also be likened to dead gladiators whose beaten and bloodied bodies are
dragged on the jagged pavement of the Spoliarium.
- The Philippines would be exploited and forsaken in a predicament after fulfilling the needs and
wants of the Spanish masters.
3. The painting is Luna’s ultimate manifestation of his futuristic vision.
- Ambeth Ocampo wrote an article that Luna may have visualized an event in the future which
was the assassination of the Ninoy Aquino after returning as Marcial Bonifacio in 1983.
Aquino’s body were dragged by Aviation Security Command (AVESCOM) Soldiers towards a
marked van. It was documented through photos and videotapes. It appears that the scene re-
staged the Spoliarium of Luna sans the Roman background.

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