

Pollice Verso, Jean-Léon Gérôme, 1872
Pollice Verso, Jean-Léon Gérôme, 1872
Pollice verso or verso pollice is a Latin phrase, meaning “with a turned thumb”, that is used in the context of gladiatorial combat. It refers to the hand gesture or thumbs signal used by Ancient Roman crowds to pass judgment on a defeated gladiator.