other animals of Rome:

It is interesting that in a culture which had incredible awe for exotic animals in nature, cared for its own pets deeply, and cherished animal forms in art, there could be such pleasure in harming animals and watching their hideous deaths for their own entertainment. Ancient Rome is known for its circus' and arena entertainment. Animals were often forced to fight each other or misfortunate people to the death as people cheered them on.

The most popular animal for arena use was the lion. Many Christians were thrown to the lions for the entertainment of Roman aristocracy. Some animals would be put in situations where death was eminent, others would just be paraded around the ring and used to perform tricks. Cock fighting was a common activity which resulted in animal death.

Other animals used for arena or circus entertainment included:

tigers, elephants, bears, leopards, rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses, crocodiles, camels, giraffes, bison, leopards and cheetahs.

Some animals were also appreciated for their non-violent entertainment value or special qualities. These included:

• monkeys- Popular for ability to playing musical instruments,dance,beg,drive mini chariots, etc.
• horse- Horse racing, recreational riding, and performances in gladiator shows made horses honored.
• dogs- Performance of tricks by dogs was a source of entertainment.
• dolphins- Romans had a special fondness for dolphins. They were considered smart, gentle and helpful.
• carrier pidgins- Valued for their ability to carry messages between people; especially during war.

Service, Hunted game, Pets, Food and Religion