St. Demetrios, the Gladiatorial Combats, and the Stadium of Thessaloniki

by Michalis Karambinis

Hesperia, Volume 95, Issue 1
Page(s): 143-166
Stable URL: https://muse.jhu.edu/article/985793
Year: 2026
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ABSTRACT:

Gladiatorial spectacles were held in Roman Thessaloniki, though the exact venue for these events remains uncertain. The martyrdom accounts of St. Demetrios, who was reportedly executed in the city during the reign of Galerius in the early 4th century CE, mention the stadium as the site of these games. These texts suggest that the Thessaloniki stadium was temporarily transformed into an arena, with a wooden barrier constructed to close its open side and a protective fence installed for the safety of spectators. This is the only known literary source describing the temporary modifications made to theaters and stadia to accommodate gladiatorial and related spectacles. Moreover, these descriptions offer valuable insights for assessing the historicity of the martyrdom accounts of St. Demetrios.