Ancient Rome is one of my favorite subjects, but this story gave me the unique opportunity to delve into a particular slice of that time period that I hadn’t focused on before: gladiatorial combat. After more than a year of late nights, extensive research, countless drafts, and seemingly endless rounds of revision, these graphics finally went to press. As always, I was (and continue to be!) immensely grateful to be able to work with Fernando Baptista, whose incredible talent, attention to detail, and dedication to getting the illustrations “just right” never fails to impress.
National Geographic magazine, August 2021. Reproduced with permission.
Fernando G. Baptista, Taylor Maggiacomo, and Rachel Hartigan, NGM Staff; Amanda Hobbs; Rocio Espin Piñar.
Sources: Jon Coulston, University of St. Andrews; Hazel Dodge, Trinity College Dublin; Alison Futrell, University of Arizona; Alain Genot, Musée Départemental Arles Antique; Katherine E. Welch, New York University. Carnuntum: Klaus Löcker, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute; Eduard Pollhammer, Archaeological Park Carnuntum.
Click here for the online version.