{"id":169,"date":"2019-10-07T17:01:52","date_gmt":"2019-10-07T21:01:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=169"},"modified":"2020-06-29T17:10:42","modified_gmt":"2020-06-29T21:10:42","slug":"exhibiting-animals","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/chapter\/exhibiting-animals\/","title":{"raw":"Exhibiting Animals","rendered":"Exhibiting Animals"},"content":{"raw":"<div class=\"textbox textbox--learning-objectives\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">In this section you will learn<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>the arrival of the first elephants to Rome and their exhibition<\/li>\r\n \t<li>the exhibition of other rare and unusual animals in Rome by various emperors<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\nAlthough most exotic (and many non-exotic) animals brought to Rome ended up being slaughtered in the arena in beast hunts, some were brought to perform or simply to be exhibited (and then killed). The emphasis was on exhibiting the unusual, and the novel, animals the Roman either rarely saw or were seeing for the first time. Pliny the Elder\u2019s fascinating and wonderful encyclopaedia records many of the first appearances of various animals in Rome, beginning with elephants.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_988\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1600\"]<a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/848\/2020\/06\/Roman_Triumphs_BM_19320416.26.jpg\"><img class=\"wp-image-988 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/848\/2020\/06\/Roman_Triumphs_BM_19320416.26.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"749\" \/><\/a> Triumphal procession with people riding elephants at far left, horse-drawn chariots at centre, passing through an arch at right.[\/caption]\r\n<blockquote>The first elephants seen in harness at Rome were those in the triumph of Pompey the Great over Africa,[footnote]We know it took place on March 12th, but are not sure if it occurred in 81, 80, or 79 BCE.[\/footnote] when they drew his chariot; this is said to have been done long ago at the triumph of Father Liber[footnote]Bacchus, the god of wine, was said to have ridden in a chariot drawn by exotic animals as he spread his worship across the world when he made his first trip to Mount Olympus. He was often depicted on mosaics not just driving a chariot pulled by tigers and panthers, but surrounded by other exotic animals.[\/footnote] at his conquest of India. Procilius says that the elephants used at the triumph of Pompey were unable to go in harness through the gate of the city.[footnote]Presumably the triumphal gate, which was only opened for triumphs. (We are not sure of its location.)[\/footnote] In the exhibition of gladiators which was given by Germanicus, the elephants performed a sort of dance with rough, irregular movements. It was a common thing to see them throw arrows with such strength that even the wind could not make them change their course, to imitate among themselves gladiatorial fights, and dance the steps of the Pyrrhic dance.[footnote]A type of war dance, performed both in Rome and Greece.[\/footnote] After this, too, they walked upon a tightrope and four of them carried a litter in which there was a fifth elephant, which represented a woman giving birth. Afterwards they took their place and so nicely did they manage their steps, that they did not so much as touch any of those who were drinking there.\r\n\r\nIt is a well-known fact that one of these elephants, who was slower than usual in learning his lessons and had thus been frequently beaten as a punishment, was found studying his lessons during the night. It is also very surprising thing that the elephant is able not only to walk up a tight-rope backwards but to come down it as well, with his head foremost. Mutianus, who was three times [pb_glossary id=\"106\"]consul[\/pb_glossary], informs us that one of these animals had been taught to trace the Greek alphabet and that he used to write in that language the following words: \"I have myself written these words and have dedicated the Celtic spoils.\" Mutianus states also, that he himself was witness to the fact, that when some elephants were being landed at Puteoli and were forced to disembark, terrified at the length of the platform, which extended from the vessel to the shore, they walked backwards to deceive themselves by forming a false estimate of the distance.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/back-matter\/aii-author-biographies\/#PlinyElder\">Pliny the Elder<\/a>,\u00a0<em>Natural History<\/em> 8.2-3\r\n\r\n<hr \/>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/848\/2020\/06\/G\u00e9r\u00f4me_-_La_rentr\u00e9e_des_f\u00e9lins_1902.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-819\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/848\/2020\/06\/G\u00e9r\u00f4me_-_La_rentr\u00e9e_des_f\u00e9lins_1902-300x191.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"255\" \/><\/a>When he was curule [pb_glossary id=\"57\"]aedile[\/pb_glossary] Quintus Scaevola (103 BCE), the son of Publius Scaevola, was the first to exhibit at Rome a combat of a number of lions; and Lucius Sulla, who became [pb_glossary id=\"107\"]dictator[\/pb_glossary] later, gave a spectacle of a fight of one hundred lions with manes[footnote]I.e. lions, rather than lionesses.[\/footnote] when he was [pb_glossary id=\"100\"]praetor[\/pb_glossary]. After him, Pompey the Great exhibited six hundred lions in the Circus, three hundred and fifteen of which had manes; [Julius] Caesar, the dictator, exhibited four hundred. It was formerly a very difficult matter to catch lions, and it was mostly done by means of pit-falls. In the reign, however, of the Emperor Claudius, accident disclosed a method which appears almost disgraceful to the name of such an animal; a Gaetulian shepherd stopped a lion that was rushing furiously upon him, by merely throwing his cloak over the animal;[footnote]I admit that I am not an expert on the lion, but the success of such a tactic seems unlikely to me .[\/footnote] an event that was then exhibited in the arena of the Circus, when the frantic fury of the animal was paralyzed in a manner almost incredible by a light covering being thrown over its head, so much so, that it was put into chains without the least resistance; we must conclude, therefore, that all its strength lies in its eyes.[footnote]I said above that Pliny\u2019s encyclopedia was fascinating. I did not say it was right.[\/footnote] This fact makes Lysimachus\u2019[footnote]\u00a0 One of Alexander the Great\u2019s generals.[\/footnote] achievement in strangling a lion, which Alexander had ordered him to be caged with, less wonderful.\r\n\r\nMark Antony subjected lions to the yoke and was the first at Rome to harness them to his chariot; he did this during the civil war, after the battle on the plains of Pharsalia; not, indeed, without a kind of ominous foreshadowing, a prodigy that foretold at the time how that generous spirits were about to be subdued. But to have himself drawn along in this manner, in company with the actress Cytheris,[footnote]A famous actress in mime, she was also the mistress of Marcus Brutus, the assassin of Caesar.[\/footnote] was a thing that surpassed even the most monstrous spectacles that were to be seen at that calamitous period. It is said that Hanno, one of the most famous Carthaginians, was the first who dared to touch a lion with his hand and to exhibit it in a tame state. This was why he was banished: it was believed that a man so talented and so ingenious would have it in his power to persuade the people to anything, and it was looked upon as unsafe to trust the liberties of the country to one who had so eminently triumphed over even ferocity itself. There are some fortuitous occurrences cited also, which have given occasion to these animals to display their natural clemency. Mentor, a native of Syracuse, was met in Syria by a lion, who rolled before him in a begging manner; although terribly afraid and eager to escape, the wild beast on every side stopped him running away and licked his feet with a fawning air. Upon this, Mentor observed on the paw of the lion a swelling and a wound; from which, after extracting a splinter, he relieved the creature's pain. There is a picture at Syracuse which testifies to the truth of this transaction.\r\n\r\nPliny the Elder, <em>Natural History<\/em> 8.20-21<\/blockquote>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_529\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"549\"]<img class=\" wp-image-529\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/848\/2019\/10\/1024px-14_Piazzale_delle_Corporazioni_Ostia_Antica_2006-09-08-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"549\" height=\"366\" \/> Image of an elephant on a mosaic from Ostia, Rome's port. Many animals were probably brought to Rome via this port[\/caption]\r\n\r\nAll big cats were very popular, including panthers and tigers:\r\n<blockquote><a id=\"ScaurusTheatre\"><\/a>There was an ancient decree of the Senate, which prohibited animals being imported from Africa into Italy; but Gnaeus Aufidius, the tribune of the people, got a law repealing this passed and this allowed them to be brought over for the games of the Circus. Scaurus, in his \u00e6dileship, was the first who sent over parti-coloured panthers, one hundred and fifty in total; after which, Pompey the Great sent four hundred and ten, and the late Emperor Augustus four hundred and twenty. The same emperor was the first person who exhibited at Rome a tame tiger on the stage. This was in the consulship of Quintus Tubero and Fabius Maximus, at the dedication of the theatre of Marcellus, on the fourth day before the nones of May: the late Emperor Claudius exhibited four at one time.\r\n\r\nPliny the Elder, <em>Natural History<\/em> 8.24-25<\/blockquote>\r\nIn the passage above Pliny refers to Augustus exhibiting a tame tiger; he also exhibited many other exotic animals.\r\n<blockquote>Furthermore, if anything rare and worth seeing was ever brought to the city, it was his habit to make a special exhibit of it in any convenient place on days when no shows were being held: a rhinoceros in the [pb_glossary id=\"66\"]Saepta [Julia][\/pb_glossary], a tiger on the stage and a snake of fifty cubits[footnote]This was a very large snake: 50 cubits is roughly 23 metres in modern measurements.[\/footnote] in front of the [pb_glossary id=\"58\"]Comitium[\/pb_glossary] and so forth.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/back-matter\/aii-author-biographies\/#Suetonius\">Suetonius<\/a>,<em> Augustus <\/em>43.4<\/blockquote>\r\nRomans had a taste for seeing far more exotic animals than tigers and rhinos, including some it is hard to identify.\r\n<blockquote>There are two other animals, which have some resemblance to the camel. One of these is called, by the Ethiopians, the nabun. It has a neck like that of the horse, feet and legs like those an ox, a head like that a camel, and is covered with white spots upon a red background; because of these peculiarities it has been called the cameleopard.[footnote]This is a giraffe.[\/footnote] It was first seen at Rome in the [pb_glossary id=\"151\"]<em>Ludi Circenses<\/em>[\/pb_glossary] held by [Julius] Caesar, the Dictator. Since that time too, it has been occasionally seen. It is more remarkable for the singularity of its appearance than for its fierceness; for which reason it has obtained the name of the wild sheep. It was at the games of Pompey the Great that the chama,[footnote]Most likely a lynx.[\/footnote] an animal called rufius by the Gauls, was first exhibited; it has the shape of a wolf, with the spots of the leopard. There were also exhibited some animals from Ethiopia, which they called by the Greek name, chepoi, the back legs of which resembled the human feet and legs, while the fore-feet were like hands. These animals have not been seen at Rome since that time. At the same games the rhinoceros was also exhibited, an animal which has a single horn projecting from the nose; it has been frequently seen since then. This too is another natural-born enemy of the elephant. It prepares itself for combat by sharpening its horn against the rocks; and in fighting aims it mainly at the belly of its adversary, which it knows to be the softest part.[footnote]I would place this as a fact in the \u2018throwing things on lions stops them attacking\u2019 category of useful information.[\/footnote] The two animals are of equal length, but the legs of the rhinoceros are much the shorter: its skin is the colour of box-wood.\r\n\r\nPliny the Elder, <em>Natural History<\/em> 8.27-29<\/blockquote>\r\n\r\n<hr \/>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<hr \/>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--readings\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Bibliography and Further Reading<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Harden, Alastair. <em>Animals in the Classical World: Ethical Perspectives from Greek and Roman Texts. <\/em>New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Jennison, George. <em>Animals for show and pleasure in ancient Rome.<\/em> Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1937.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<hr \/>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;","rendered":"<div class=\"textbox textbox--learning-objectives\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">In this section you will learn<\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<ul>\n<li>the arrival of the first elephants to Rome and their exhibition<\/li>\n<li>the exhibition of other rare and unusual animals in Rome by various emperors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Although most exotic (and many non-exotic) animals brought to Rome ended up being slaughtered in the arena in beast hunts, some were brought to perform or simply to be exhibited (and then killed). The emphasis was on exhibiting the unusual, and the novel, animals the Roman either rarely saw or were seeing for the first time. Pliny the Elder\u2019s fascinating and wonderful encyclopaedia records many of the first appearances of various animals in Rome, beginning with elephants.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_988\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-988\" style=\"width: 1600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/848\/2020\/06\/Roman_Triumphs_BM_19320416.26.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-988 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/848\/2020\/06\/Roman_Triumphs_BM_19320416.26.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"749\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/848\/2020\/06\/Roman_Triumphs_BM_19320416.26.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/848\/2020\/06\/Roman_Triumphs_BM_19320416.26-300x140.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/848\/2020\/06\/Roman_Triumphs_BM_19320416.26-1024x479.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/848\/2020\/06\/Roman_Triumphs_BM_19320416.26-768x360.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/848\/2020\/06\/Roman_Triumphs_BM_19320416.26-1536x719.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/848\/2020\/06\/Roman_Triumphs_BM_19320416.26-65x30.jpg 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/848\/2020\/06\/Roman_Triumphs_BM_19320416.26-225x105.jpg 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/848\/2020\/06\/Roman_Triumphs_BM_19320416.26-350x164.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-988\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Triumphal procession with people riding elephants at far left, horse-drawn chariots at centre, passing through an arch at right.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<blockquote><p>The first elephants seen in harness at Rome were those in the triumph of Pompey the Great over Africa,<a class=\"footnote\" title=\"We know it took place on March 12th, but are not sure if it occurred in 81, 80, or 79 BCE.\" id=\"return-footnote-169-1\" href=\"#footnote-169-1\" aria-label=\"Footnote 1\"><sup class=\"footnote\">[1]<\/sup><\/a> when they drew his chariot; this is said to have been done long ago at the triumph of Father Liber<a class=\"footnote\" title=\"Bacchus, the god of wine, was said to have ridden in a chariot drawn by exotic animals as he spread his worship across the world when he made his first trip to Mount Olympus. He was often depicted on mosaics not just driving a chariot pulled by tigers and panthers, but surrounded by other exotic animals.\" id=\"return-footnote-169-2\" href=\"#footnote-169-2\" aria-label=\"Footnote 2\"><sup class=\"footnote\">[2]<\/sup><\/a> at his conquest of India. Procilius says that the elephants used at the triumph of Pompey were unable to go in harness through the gate of the city.<a class=\"footnote\" title=\"Presumably the triumphal gate, which was only opened for triumphs. (We are not sure of its location.)\" id=\"return-footnote-169-3\" href=\"#footnote-169-3\" aria-label=\"Footnote 3\"><sup class=\"footnote\">[3]<\/sup><\/a> In the exhibition of gladiators which was given by Germanicus, the elephants performed a sort of dance with rough, irregular movements. It was a common thing to see them throw arrows with such strength that even the wind could not make them change their course, to imitate among themselves gladiatorial fights, and dance the steps of the Pyrrhic dance.<a class=\"footnote\" title=\"A type of war dance, performed both in Rome and Greece.\" id=\"return-footnote-169-4\" href=\"#footnote-169-4\" aria-label=\"Footnote 4\"><sup class=\"footnote\">[4]<\/sup><\/a> After this, too, they walked upon a tightrope and four of them carried a litter in which there was a fifth elephant, which represented a woman giving birth. Afterwards they took their place and so nicely did they manage their steps, that they did not so much as touch any of those who were drinking there.<\/p>\n<p>It is a well-known fact that one of these elephants, who was slower than usual in learning his lessons and had thus been frequently beaten as a punishment, was found studying his lessons during the night. It is also very surprising thing that the elephant is able not only to walk up a tight-rope backwards but to come down it as well, with his head foremost. Mutianus, who was three times <a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_169_106\">consul<\/a>, informs us that one of these animals had been taught to trace the Greek alphabet and that he used to write in that language the following words: &#8220;I have myself written these words and have dedicated the Celtic spoils.&#8221; Mutianus states also, that he himself was witness to the fact, that when some elephants were being landed at Puteoli and were forced to disembark, terrified at the length of the platform, which extended from the vessel to the shore, they walked backwards to deceive themselves by forming a false estimate of the distance.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/back-matter\/aii-author-biographies\/#PlinyElder\">Pliny the Elder<\/a>,\u00a0<em>Natural History<\/em> 8.2-3<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/848\/2020\/06\/G\u00e9r\u00f4me_-_La_rentr\u00e9e_des_f\u00e9lins_1902.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-819\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/848\/2020\/06\/G\u00e9r\u00f4me_-_La_rentr\u00e9e_des_f\u00e9lins_1902-300x191.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"255\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/848\/2020\/06\/G\u00e9r\u00f4me_-_La_rentr\u00e9e_des_f\u00e9lins_1902-300x191.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/848\/2020\/06\/G\u00e9r\u00f4me_-_La_rentr\u00e9e_des_f\u00e9lins_1902-1024x653.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/848\/2020\/06\/G\u00e9r\u00f4me_-_La_rentr\u00e9e_des_f\u00e9lins_1902-768x490.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/848\/2020\/06\/G\u00e9r\u00f4me_-_La_rentr\u00e9e_des_f\u00e9lins_1902-1536x980.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/848\/2020\/06\/G\u00e9r\u00f4me_-_La_rentr\u00e9e_des_f\u00e9lins_1902-2048x1306.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/848\/2020\/06\/G\u00e9r\u00f4me_-_La_rentr\u00e9e_des_f\u00e9lins_1902-65x41.jpg 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/848\/2020\/06\/G\u00e9r\u00f4me_-_La_rentr\u00e9e_des_f\u00e9lins_1902-225x143.jpg 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/848\/2020\/06\/G\u00e9r\u00f4me_-_La_rentr\u00e9e_des_f\u00e9lins_1902-350x223.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a>When he was curule <a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_169_57\">aedile<\/a> Quintus Scaevola (103 BCE), the son of Publius Scaevola, was the first to exhibit at Rome a combat of a number of lions; and Lucius Sulla, who became <a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_169_107\">dictator<\/a> later, gave a spectacle of a fight of one hundred lions with manes<a class=\"footnote\" title=\"I.e. lions, rather than lionesses.\" id=\"return-footnote-169-5\" href=\"#footnote-169-5\" aria-label=\"Footnote 5\"><sup class=\"footnote\">[5]<\/sup><\/a> when he was <a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_169_100\">praetor<\/a>. After him, Pompey the Great exhibited six hundred lions in the Circus, three hundred and fifteen of which had manes; [Julius] Caesar, the dictator, exhibited four hundred. It was formerly a very difficult matter to catch lions, and it was mostly done by means of pit-falls. In the reign, however, of the Emperor Claudius, accident disclosed a method which appears almost disgraceful to the name of such an animal; a Gaetulian shepherd stopped a lion that was rushing furiously upon him, by merely throwing his cloak over the animal;<a class=\"footnote\" title=\"I admit that I am not an expert on the lion, but the success of such a tactic seems unlikely to me .\" id=\"return-footnote-169-6\" href=\"#footnote-169-6\" aria-label=\"Footnote 6\"><sup class=\"footnote\">[6]<\/sup><\/a> an event that was then exhibited in the arena of the Circus, when the frantic fury of the animal was paralyzed in a manner almost incredible by a light covering being thrown over its head, so much so, that it was put into chains without the least resistance; we must conclude, therefore, that all its strength lies in its eyes.<a class=\"footnote\" title=\"I said above that Pliny\u2019s encyclopedia was fascinating. I did not say it was right.\" id=\"return-footnote-169-7\" href=\"#footnote-169-7\" aria-label=\"Footnote 7\"><sup class=\"footnote\">[7]<\/sup><\/a> This fact makes Lysimachus\u2019<a class=\"footnote\" title=\"\u00a0 One of Alexander the Great\u2019s generals.\" id=\"return-footnote-169-8\" href=\"#footnote-169-8\" aria-label=\"Footnote 8\"><sup class=\"footnote\">[8]<\/sup><\/a> achievement in strangling a lion, which Alexander had ordered him to be caged with, less wonderful.<\/p>\n<p>Mark Antony subjected lions to the yoke and was the first at Rome to harness them to his chariot; he did this during the civil war, after the battle on the plains of Pharsalia; not, indeed, without a kind of ominous foreshadowing, a prodigy that foretold at the time how that generous spirits were about to be subdued. But to have himself drawn along in this manner, in company with the actress Cytheris,<a class=\"footnote\" title=\"A famous actress in mime, she was also the mistress of Marcus Brutus, the assassin of Caesar.\" id=\"return-footnote-169-9\" href=\"#footnote-169-9\" aria-label=\"Footnote 9\"><sup class=\"footnote\">[9]<\/sup><\/a> was a thing that surpassed even the most monstrous spectacles that were to be seen at that calamitous period. It is said that Hanno, one of the most famous Carthaginians, was the first who dared to touch a lion with his hand and to exhibit it in a tame state. This was why he was banished: it was believed that a man so talented and so ingenious would have it in his power to persuade the people to anything, and it was looked upon as unsafe to trust the liberties of the country to one who had so eminently triumphed over even ferocity itself. There are some fortuitous occurrences cited also, which have given occasion to these animals to display their natural clemency. Mentor, a native of Syracuse, was met in Syria by a lion, who rolled before him in a begging manner; although terribly afraid and eager to escape, the wild beast on every side stopped him running away and licked his feet with a fawning air. Upon this, Mentor observed on the paw of the lion a swelling and a wound; from which, after extracting a splinter, he relieved the creature&#8217;s pain. There is a picture at Syracuse which testifies to the truth of this transaction.<\/p>\n<p>Pliny the Elder, <em>Natural History<\/em> 8.20-21<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<figure id=\"attachment_529\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-529\" style=\"width: 549px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-529\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/848\/2019\/10\/1024px-14_Piazzale_delle_Corporazioni_Ostia_Antica_2006-09-08-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"549\" height=\"366\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/848\/2019\/10\/1024px-14_Piazzale_delle_Corporazioni_Ostia_Antica_2006-09-08-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/848\/2019\/10\/1024px-14_Piazzale_delle_Corporazioni_Ostia_Antica_2006-09-08-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/848\/2019\/10\/1024px-14_Piazzale_delle_Corporazioni_Ostia_Antica_2006-09-08-65x43.jpg 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/848\/2019\/10\/1024px-14_Piazzale_delle_Corporazioni_Ostia_Antica_2006-09-08-225x150.jpg 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/848\/2019\/10\/1024px-14_Piazzale_delle_Corporazioni_Ostia_Antica_2006-09-08-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/848\/2019\/10\/1024px-14_Piazzale_delle_Corporazioni_Ostia_Antica_2006-09-08.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 549px) 100vw, 549px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-529\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image of an elephant on a mosaic from Ostia, Rome&#8217;s port. Many animals were probably brought to Rome via this port<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>All big cats were very popular, including panthers and tigers:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><a id=\"ScaurusTheatre\"><\/a>There was an ancient decree of the Senate, which prohibited animals being imported from Africa into Italy; but Gnaeus Aufidius, the tribune of the people, got a law repealing this passed and this allowed them to be brought over for the games of the Circus. Scaurus, in his \u00e6dileship, was the first who sent over parti-coloured panthers, one hundred and fifty in total; after which, Pompey the Great sent four hundred and ten, and the late Emperor Augustus four hundred and twenty. The same emperor was the first person who exhibited at Rome a tame tiger on the stage. This was in the consulship of Quintus Tubero and Fabius Maximus, at the dedication of the theatre of Marcellus, on the fourth day before the nones of May: the late Emperor Claudius exhibited four at one time.<\/p>\n<p>Pliny the Elder, <em>Natural History<\/em> 8.24-25<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>In the passage above Pliny refers to Augustus exhibiting a tame tiger; he also exhibited many other exotic animals.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Furthermore, if anything rare and worth seeing was ever brought to the city, it was his habit to make a special exhibit of it in any convenient place on days when no shows were being held: a rhinoceros in the <a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_169_66\">Saepta [Julia]<\/a>, a tiger on the stage and a snake of fifty cubits<a class=\"footnote\" title=\"This was a very large snake: 50 cubits is roughly 23 metres in modern measurements.\" id=\"return-footnote-169-10\" href=\"#footnote-169-10\" aria-label=\"Footnote 10\"><sup class=\"footnote\">[10]<\/sup><\/a> in front of the <a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_169_58\">Comitium<\/a> and so forth.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/back-matter\/aii-author-biographies\/#Suetonius\">Suetonius<\/a>,<em> Augustus <\/em>43.4<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Romans had a taste for seeing far more exotic animals than tigers and rhinos, including some it is hard to identify.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>There are two other animals, which have some resemblance to the camel. One of these is called, by the Ethiopians, the nabun. It has a neck like that of the horse, feet and legs like those an ox, a head like that a camel, and is covered with white spots upon a red background; because of these peculiarities it has been called the cameleopard.<a class=\"footnote\" title=\"This is a giraffe.\" id=\"return-footnote-169-11\" href=\"#footnote-169-11\" aria-label=\"Footnote 11\"><sup class=\"footnote\">[11]<\/sup><\/a> It was first seen at Rome in the <a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_169_151\"><em>Ludi Circenses<\/em><\/a> held by [Julius] Caesar, the Dictator. Since that time too, it has been occasionally seen. It is more remarkable for the singularity of its appearance than for its fierceness; for which reason it has obtained the name of the wild sheep. It was at the games of Pompey the Great that the chama,<a class=\"footnote\" title=\"Most likely a lynx.\" id=\"return-footnote-169-12\" href=\"#footnote-169-12\" aria-label=\"Footnote 12\"><sup class=\"footnote\">[12]<\/sup><\/a> an animal called rufius by the Gauls, was first exhibited; it has the shape of a wolf, with the spots of the leopard. There were also exhibited some animals from Ethiopia, which they called by the Greek name, chepoi, the back legs of which resembled the human feet and legs, while the fore-feet were like hands. These animals have not been seen at Rome since that time. At the same games the rhinoceros was also exhibited, an animal which has a single horn projecting from the nose; it has been frequently seen since then. This too is another natural-born enemy of the elephant. It prepares itself for combat by sharpening its horn against the rocks; and in fighting aims it mainly at the belly of its adversary, which it knows to be the softest part.<a class=\"footnote\" title=\"I would place this as a fact in the \u2018throwing things on lions stops them attacking\u2019 category of useful information.\" id=\"return-footnote-169-13\" href=\"#footnote-169-13\" aria-label=\"Footnote 13\"><sup class=\"footnote\">[13]<\/sup><\/a> The two animals are of equal length, but the legs of the rhinoceros are much the shorter: its skin is the colour of box-wood.<\/p>\n<p>Pliny the Elder, <em>Natural History<\/em> 8.27-29<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<hr \/>\n<hr \/>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--readings\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Bibliography and Further Reading<\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<ul>\n<li>Harden, Alastair. <em>Animals in the Classical World: Ethical Perspectives from Greek and Roman Texts. <\/em>New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013.<\/li>\n<li>Jennison, George. <em>Animals for show and pleasure in ancient Rome.<\/em> Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1937.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"media-attributions clear\" prefix:cc=\"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/ns#\" prefix:dc=\"http:\/\/purl.org\/dc\/terms\/\"><h2>Media Attributions<\/h2><ul><li about=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Roman_Triumphs_(BM_1932,0416.26).jpg\"><a rel=\"cc:attributionURL\" href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Roman_Triumphs_(BM_1932,0416.26).jpg\" property=\"dc:title\">Roman Triumphs<\/a>  &copy;  <a rel=\"dc:creator\" href=\"https:\/\/www.britishmuseum.org\/collection\/object\/P_1932-0416-26\" property=\"cc:attributionName\">The Trustees of the British Museum<\/a>    is licensed under a  <a rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-SA (Attribution ShareAlike)<\/a> license<\/li><li about=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:G%C3%A9r%C3%B4me_-_La_rentr%C3%A9e_des_f%C3%A9lins,_1902.jpg\"><a rel=\"cc:attributionURL\" href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:G%C3%A9r%C3%B4me_-_La_rentr%C3%A9e_des_f%C3%A9lins,_1902.jpg\" property=\"dc:title\">The Retreating Lions<\/a>  &copy;  <a rel=\"dc:creator\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/en:Jean-L%C3%A9on_G%C3%A9r%C3%B4me\" property=\"cc:attributionName\">Jean-L\u00e9on G\u00e9r\u00f4me<\/a>    is licensed under a  <a rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/publicdomain\/mark\/1.0\/\">Public Domain<\/a> license<\/li><li about=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:14_Piazzale_delle_Corporazioni_Ostia_Antica_2006-09-08.jpg\"><a rel=\"cc:attributionURL\" href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:14_Piazzale_delle_Corporazioni_Ostia_Antica_2006-09-08.jpg\" property=\"dc:title\">1024px-14_Piazzale_delle_Corporazioni_Ostia_Antica_2006-09-08<\/a>  &copy;  Photo by Marie-Lan Nguyen     <\/li><\/ul><\/div><hr class=\"before-footnotes clear\" \/><div class=\"footnotes\"><ol><li id=\"footnote-169-1\">We know it took place on March 12th, but are not sure if it occurred in 81, 80, or 79 BCE. <a href=\"#return-footnote-169-1\" class=\"return-footnote\" aria-label=\"Return to footnote 1\">&crarr;<\/a><\/li><li id=\"footnote-169-2\">Bacchus, the god of wine, was said to have ridden in a chariot drawn by exotic animals as he spread his worship across the world when he made his first trip to Mount Olympus. He was often depicted on mosaics not just driving a chariot pulled by tigers and panthers, but surrounded by other exotic animals. <a href=\"#return-footnote-169-2\" class=\"return-footnote\" aria-label=\"Return to footnote 2\">&crarr;<\/a><\/li><li id=\"footnote-169-3\">Presumably the triumphal gate, which was only opened for triumphs. (We are not sure of its location.) <a href=\"#return-footnote-169-3\" class=\"return-footnote\" aria-label=\"Return to footnote 3\">&crarr;<\/a><\/li><li id=\"footnote-169-4\">A type of war dance, performed both in Rome and Greece. <a href=\"#return-footnote-169-4\" class=\"return-footnote\" aria-label=\"Return to footnote 4\">&crarr;<\/a><\/li><li id=\"footnote-169-5\">I.e. lions, rather than lionesses. <a href=\"#return-footnote-169-5\" class=\"return-footnote\" aria-label=\"Return to footnote 5\">&crarr;<\/a><\/li><li id=\"footnote-169-6\">I admit that I am not an expert on the lion, but the success of such a tactic seems unlikely to me . <a href=\"#return-footnote-169-6\" class=\"return-footnote\" aria-label=\"Return to footnote 6\">&crarr;<\/a><\/li><li id=\"footnote-169-7\">I said above that Pliny\u2019s encyclopedia was fascinating. I did not say it was right. <a href=\"#return-footnote-169-7\" class=\"return-footnote\" aria-label=\"Return to footnote 7\">&crarr;<\/a><\/li><li id=\"footnote-169-8\">\u00a0 One of Alexander the Great\u2019s generals. <a href=\"#return-footnote-169-8\" class=\"return-footnote\" aria-label=\"Return to footnote 8\">&crarr;<\/a><\/li><li id=\"footnote-169-9\">A famous actress in mime, she was also the mistress of Marcus Brutus, the assassin of Caesar. <a href=\"#return-footnote-169-9\" class=\"return-footnote\" aria-label=\"Return to footnote 9\">&crarr;<\/a><\/li><li id=\"footnote-169-10\">This was a very large snake: 50 cubits is roughly 23 metres in modern measurements. <a href=\"#return-footnote-169-10\" class=\"return-footnote\" aria-label=\"Return to footnote 10\">&crarr;<\/a><\/li><li id=\"footnote-169-11\">This is a giraffe. <a href=\"#return-footnote-169-11\" class=\"return-footnote\" aria-label=\"Return to footnote 11\">&crarr;<\/a><\/li><li id=\"footnote-169-12\">Most likely a lynx. <a href=\"#return-footnote-169-12\" class=\"return-footnote\" aria-label=\"Return to footnote 12\">&crarr;<\/a><\/li><li id=\"footnote-169-13\">I would place this as a fact in the \u2018throwing things on lions stops them attacking\u2019 category of useful information. <a href=\"#return-footnote-169-13\" class=\"return-footnote\" aria-label=\"Return to footnote 13\">&crarr;<\/a><\/li><\/ol><\/div><div class=\"glossary\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\" id=\"definition\">definition<\/span><template id=\"term_169_106\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_169_106\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>The chief military and civilian commander of Rome. Two were elected each year and competition to become consul was incredibly intense as it represented the apex of a political career. After their term in office consuls could go on to be governors of provinces, where, under the Republic, they were wont to rob the provincials blind in order to recoup the costs of their political campaigns.<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_169_57\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_169_57\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>The first rank on the cursus honorum, the course of public offices, these magistrates were in charge of maintaining public buildings and space and supervised and organized the public festivals. There were two types of aedile, curule, and plebeian.<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_169_107\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_169_107\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>An emergency position, appointed by the Senate in times of crisis, a dictator could only serve for six months, but during that period he had absolute authority. Caesar had himself voted dictator for life which a) was certainly illegal and b) turned out to be a very short time thanks to the c. 70 members of the Senate (some of whom were his close friends) who stabbed him to death in 44.<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_169_100\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_169_100\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>The second most senior position in the cursus honorum, there was originally only one, but the number expanded to 8 and then 16 as the needs of the administration demanded more and more magistrates.<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_169_66\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_169_66\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>The Saepta Julia was a building in the Campus Martius, which was completed by Agrippa, one of Augustus\u2019 closest friends, who was also married to Julia, Augustus\u2019 daughter. Augustus then decorated it. It was used for a variety of purposes (including voting) and hosted gladiatorial games a number of times \u2013 and even a naumachia by Caligula, though it was a very odd naumachia, as it only featured one ship.<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_169_58\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_169_58\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>An open air space located in a corner of the Roman Forum, near where the Curia Julia still stands. It was an assembly place for the people and the heart of political activity in Rome. For more see here.<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_169_151\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_169_151\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>Circus games. This covers any chariot racing; the Ludi circenses were held in conjunction with other annual, religious festivals.<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><\/div>","protected":false},"author":801,"menu_order":1,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-169","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":41,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/169","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/801"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/169\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":997,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/169\/revisions\/997"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/41"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/169\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=169"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=169"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=169"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/spectaclesintheromanworldsourcebook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=169"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}