Carnelian intaglio of a gladiator fighting a lion. Culture: Roman. Dimensions: H. 9/16 in. (1.5 cm). Date: 1st half of 1st century A.D..
In the Early Imperial period, a popular part of the gladiatorial games was the morning program in which armed gladiators called venatores (hunters) were pitted against wild animals. The Romans also liked to see different kinds of animals fighting each other.