Wild Animals in the Colosseum:

By Emily, Bella and Imogen

Wild Animals in the Colosseum:

Primary Sources:

Sculptured relief showing gladiators fighting wild animals (AD 150)

100 day festival:

Animals in Captivity

• During the 100-day spectacle over 9,000 wild animals were slaughtered. SO many animals were killed at such a fast rate that many became virtually extinct. Entire species of animals disappeared from their natural habitats. Animals from Africa and Asia such as elephants, lions and tigers were hunted to the point of extinction.

"oh deer!"

• Animals were held under captivity in the underground basement of the Colosseum. It is believed an ancient lift system allowed them to be hoisted up into the middle of the arena, as if magic trick, often unexpected.
• Animals included wild boars, Bears, Deer, Wolves, Snakes, Camels, Giraffes, Lions, Tigers, Elephants, Crocodiles, Hippopotamus, Rhino’s and more.

Mosaic:

Trade and export of Animals:

• The trade in wild animals was highly lucrative. Animals were sourced from the far reaches of the Empire especially Africa, Egypt and Asia. The natives of these areas would have captured and caged these animals. The animals would then have been sold to animal traders who arranged for their transport to Rome and also to other amphitheaters throughout the Roman Empire.
• The wild animals came from all areas of the Roman Empire, and conveyed the extent of the lands that had been captured by the Romans – symbol of power and demonstrated the power and extent of the Roman world.

Forms of Entertainment:

• Wild animals that were shown at the colosseum were displayed as either circus acts (where animals were trained to do tricks e.g. pull chariots) or they were destined for death.
• The more exotic the animal, the better the fight, and the better the quality of the ‘games’.
• Released wild animals into the Colosseum to fight with specially trained warriors know as “venatores” and “bestiarii’s. Thousands of people would traditionally gather to watch men fight these wild animals or prisoners would be released into the area as a punishment.

"After Roman times, no hippopotamus was seen in Europe until one was brought to London by steamship in 1850. It took a whole regiment of Egyptian soldiers to capture it, and involved a five month journey to bring it from the White Nile to Cairo. And yet the Emperor Commodus, a dead-shot with spear and bow, himself killed five hippos, two elephants, a rhinoceros and a giraffe, in one show lasting two days. On another occasion he killed 100 lions and bears in a single morning show, from safe walkways specially constructed across the arena."