The Exotic Menagerie: The Wild Animals Slaughtered in Gladiator Games
The ancient Roman gladiator games were a spectacle of blood and brutality that captivated audiences for centuries.
www.ancient-origins.net
The ancient Roman gladiator games were a spectacle of blood and brutality that captivated audiences for centuries. While we may imagine sword-wielding gladiators fighting to the death in the arena, there was another element to these games that often goes overlooked: the use of exotic animals. From lions and tigers to elephants and bears, these majestic creatures were brought in from far-flung lands to add an element of danger and excitement to the games. But what was life like for these animals, and how were they transported and kept? This is the fascinating and often disturbing world of exotic animals in Roman gladiator games.