Roman Gladiators Battled Bears in the Arena, Fossil Evidence Reveals
Uncovering the Fossil Evidence of a Roman Bear Fight Ridley Scott's portrayal of gladiators riding rhinos and battling sharks in his latest film may have drawn criticism, but it seems that real Roman fighters did indeed engage with a variety of wild animals. Scientists in Serbia have uncovered the first fossil evidence of a brown bear (Ursus arctos) that fought human fighters in a Roman amphitheatre. The preserved skull of this unfortunate mammal shows signs of a sharp blow to the head, which may have contributed to its death. Experts believe the bear likely fought and died in a Roman amphitheatre at Viminacium, an important Roman settlement in modern-day Serbia. This oval fortress, similar to today’s football stadiums, could hold 12,000 spectators, all eager for blood. While it is uncertain whether the bear died directly in the arena, the evidence suggests the trauma occurred during spectacles, with a secondary infection playing a significant role in its death. The brown bear s...