The Figure on the American Express Card

This logo and design that we have all come to recognize as American Express made a debut back in 1958.

Back then, the description of this design was "Gladiator on a shield"
The last time American Express mentioned anything about it's logo was back in 1989 when there was a law suite against Vibra Approved Laboratories over its trademark design. 

However we don't hear much about this  individual so I thought I'd share some interesting facts about him today. This is a design of a gladiator and not a viking  Many people will also confuse the portrait as a centurion solider; most likely because AMEX issues the Centurion Card through its American Express Centurion Bank; but he is not. 

A centurion is an army commander from ancient Rome. Gladiators were present during the same time period, however they had a very different role in society. Gladiators were mostly slaves and prisoners who were forced to battle to the death as a form of entertainment for the rich. They fought against wild animals as well each other, either to win their freedom, or just to survive.  
There are critics who say that the head gear on the American Express logo resembles that of a Centurion rather than a Gladiator's. You can tell that a Centurion's headpiece is significantly more luxurious than one of a Gladiators. 

　　　　　　　　　

Centurion

Gladiator

Many times, movies and TV shows like to exaggerate costumes and props and do not accurately portray historical facts (which are less dramatized.) Perhaps the person who first drew the picture was influenced by these images and thought the logo he drew was an accurate representation of a Roman Gladiator. 

Regardless, the image does not seem to be any specific person of importance from history, rather a simple drawing of a confused, historically inaccurate artist.  

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