This is John Batchelor, conversation with my good colleague, Indiana Honan himself.

He brings greetings from Pompey, the Roman city covered in ash by the eruption of Vesuvius

in 79 BCE. However, the discovery in the midst of the town a gladiator barracks, and in that

barracks, there were bodies, there were also helmets, and one particular helmet, a gladiator barracks. And in that barracks, there were bodies. There were also helmets.

And one particular helmet, a gladiator's helmet, that would be something of a reward to a successful

gladiator, had the symbol of a palm tree on the visor, above the visor. Palm trees at that time

represented Judea. So, Indiana takes these clues

and puts together a narrative of a Jewish gladiator. Here's Indiana Honeline himself to explain. More of

this later. Very significant and identifying that this, they were probably a Jewish gladiator. When gladiators

came in, they were not known, they got regular uniforms. Those that performed well, eventually got

personalized helmets. The symbol of Judea was the palm tree. It was sew on coins that were

brought back to Rome. It was later changed to a blind symbol, but continuing in the Roman coins to use the palm.

So in October of 79 BCE, the eruption of Mount Vesuvius engulfed the vibrant city of Pompeii, which I have visited, and forever sealing its fate.

Many gladiators lived and trained in the barracks. I think 18 bodies were found there. It was very

impressive, 74 dora columns in the heart of the city. And amongst the helmets that was found

was one which had this palm tree. The gladiator was probably

taken as a slave when the Romans captured Judea years earlier, the time of destruction of

the temple and their siege of Jerusalem, and got the personalized helmet as he became more

famous and recognized.

And again, this symbol was not unique to him,

but it was a symbol recognized by others.