CIRCUS GAMES

Typical 'fight' combinations at the Roman circus:

a wolf against a hippopotamus
a rhinoceros against a giraffe
a panther against an ostrich
an Ethiopian against an elephant
a German against a bear
a woman against a dwarf
a Christian against a lion

Source: Around The Roman Table (P Faas, Macmillan)

NB There is much debate amongst historians about exactly what went on in the arena. Such contests were common though it appears, and always to the death. In times when Christianity was more dominant, although Christians would not watch fights with animals due to pagan connotations, extreme cruelty as mass entertainment was still common, especially in the form of mutilation and burning of perceived enemies.