Fossil skull provides first direct evidence that bears fought in Roman amphitheaters
Paul Arnold
contributing writer
Lisa Lock
scientific editor
Robert Egan
associate editor
For citizens of the ancient Roman Empire, a trip to the amphitheater meant a thrilling day of entertainment. However, for many of the gladiators and animals involved, it was a fight for survival. A new study in Antiquity provides the first direct evidence that brown bears were used in the gladiatorial arena, giving us a grim look at the brutal treatment they endured.
"This study provides the first direct osteological evidence for the participation of brown bears in Roman spectacles, offering a glimpse of the significance of brown bears in spectacles across the wider Empire," commented the researchers.
Historians have long known that Romans used bears for entertainment in their amphitheaters, thanks to ancient texts and images on mosaics and pottery. However, physical evidence was lacking.
In this new study, researchers analyzed the fragmented and battered skull of a brown bear that was excavated in Serbia in 2016. It was found near the entrance of the remains of a second-century amphitheater in what was once the important Roman city of Viminacium. A disturbing story of animal mistreatment is written in its bones.
Unlocking a brutal past
A large portion of the bear's cranial vault or braincase was preserved, giving the scientists a lot of material to work with. The male bear was 6 years old when it died about 1,700 years ago, and it had suffered a huge fracture to its frontal bone caused by a blunt force, most likely a weapon like a spear. But this was likely not the direct cause of death. X-ray images and CT scans revealed that the injury had begun to heal, but was complicated by an infection, resulting in osteomyelitis (inflammation of the bone). The animal's jaws also showed signs of infection.
A closer look at its canine teeth revealed excessive wear and tear, which is not usually found in wild bears. This type of dental damage is typically seen in captive animals that chew on their cages because of stress, and suggests the Roman bear was held in captivity for a long time, perhaps years. Therefore, the unfortunate animal could have been involved in numerous spectacles at the Viminacium amphitheater, possibly pitted against other animals or hunters.
The scientists behind the study aren't sure if the bear died during a spectacle. They think it's more likely that the initial injury occurred in the arena and the resulting infection contributed to its death sometime later.
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More information: Nemanja Marković et al, A spectacle of the Roman amphitheatre at Viminacium: multiproxy analysis of a brown bear skull, Antiquity (2025).
Journal information: Antiquity
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