Dies in Arena

A historical re-enactment in the heart of ancient Segusio

Dies in Arena is a major historical re-enactment dedicated to Roman gladiators, held in the Roman Amphitheatre of Susa, located on Via della Consolata in the town of Susa, in the province of Turin and the heart of Piedmont. The event brings the munera gladiatorum back to life in the very place where, nearly two millennia ago, ancient Segusio hosted arena games, offering the public an authentic immersion into the life and combat techniques of Ancient Roman gladiators.

Who organizes Dies in Arena

The event is promoted by the Colosseum Archaeological Park, represented locally by the Turin Archaeological Superintendency, together with the Municipality of Susa and the associations Ars Dimicandi and Gruppo Storico Romano, as part of a protocol dedicated to the study, dissemination, and accurate representation of gladiatorial combat. The choice of the Susa amphitheatre is no coincidence: its extraordinary location at the foot of the Alps adds authenticity to a spectacle curated in every detail by history experts.

Philological combat and accurate reconstructions

The strength of Dies in Arena lies in the rigor of its reconstruction. Gladiators face each other using techniques codified from ancient iconographic sources—mosaics, reliefs, paintings—and literary texts. The armor, combat styles, and roles of different gladiators, such as the murmillo, retiarius, and thraex, are the result of years of research and practice in historical re-enactment.

A program blending entertainment and culture

The typical edition spans two days and includes several highlights:

• a lecture dedicated to amphitheaters and spectacular games, hosted at the Castello di Adelaide;
• the historical pageant starting from Piazza Oddone;
• gladiatorial combat shows in the Roman Arena, where the audience plays an active role and decides the fate of the fighters;
• the evocative Roman banquet in costume.

Often included in the European Heritage Days calendar, Dies in Arena combines historical outreach with live performance, making the culture of Ancient Rome accessible to everyone.

Susa, a city with Roman roots

Susa, in Piedmont, preserves a first-rate archaeological heritage: beyond the amphitheatre, the Arch of Augustus and the city walls bear witness to the importance of ancient Segusio along the Alpine routes. Dies in Arena enhances this heritage by transforming it into a living and engaging experience for visitors of all ages.