A lion bite on the remains of a Roman gladiator: The first direct evidence of combat with animals

They were called venatores. They were a specialized type of gladiator who, from the 1st century BC onward, fought in the arenas of the Roman Empire against wild animals. Bears, leopards, lions, and deer faced off against men armed with swords, spears, and whips, providing a bloody spectacle for the masses. Until now, this was known mainly from written records and the scenes immortalized on large mosaics found from Libya to Tunisia. Images of this savage struggle are evident. But new research published Wednesday presents the world with the first skeletal evidence of a gladiator bitten by a lion in the Roman period.

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Fuente: El País