A study on Roman law by the Carlos III University of Madrid analyzes the regulations and complex imperial logistics that governed the capture, transport, and safety of animal spectacles in the Roman Empire—which were far more popular than gladiatorial combat.
Behind the fascination and fervor aroused by the venationes—the hunts and exhibitions of exotic animals in Roman amphitheaters—lay a sophisticated and complex military and administrative apparatus. A study by UC3M analyzes the legal dimensions of these spectacles based on two laws from the Late Empire, specifically two imperial constitutions from the Theodosian Code. The study, published in the Revista General de Derecho Romano , provides new insights into entertainment in ancient Rome: ranging from a possible imperial monopoly on lion hunting to the abuses and security conflicts caused during the transport of wild beasts.
Through the study of the imperial constitutions preserved in the Theodosian Code ( Codex Theodosianus ) and later compiled in the Justinian Code ( Codex Iustinianus ), the research demonstrates how imperial power exercised strict control over exotic animals.
“In late antiquity, faced with the growing scarcity of big cats, a state monopoly on lions was established to guarantee the supply of animals for the emperor’s spectacles and to prevent competition from private individuals—in other words, all lions belonged to the emperor,” comments the study’s author, Rosa María Carreño Sánchez, a researcher at the Lucio Anneo Séneca Institute of Classical Studies at UC3M.
The Roman army had highly specialized units (such as soldiers designated ad leones, the ursuarii, or the vestigiatores) dedicated to tracking, capturing, and guarding wild beasts along the Empire’s borders.
Furthermore, transporting these animals to the capital or the imperial menageries created significant logistical and economic challenges. The reason was that the provinces were required to supply the transport personnel at the expense of local coffers, and this could lead to fraudulent practices—specifically, undue delays that not only ruined the cities but could also conceal the fraudulent use of the animals for unauthorized private spectacles. To curb these abuses, the imperial administration imposed severe fines in gold on military commanders who failed to comply.
Unlike gladiatorial combat—which gradually died out due to the moral condemnation of Christianity and the high cost of organizing it—the venationes survived for centuries, becoming displays of human dominion over nature and the grandeur of imperial power.
This massive phenomenon spread throughout the Roman Empire, including Hispania. A prime example is the colossal amphitheater at Italica (Santiponce, Seville), one of the largest in the Empire, capable of hosting all kinds of gladiatorial spectacles—including venationes—in a city of barely 8,000 inhabitants.
“Unlike literary sources or films, which only show us the final outcome in the arena, an analysis of Roman law allows us to understand what went on behind the scenes: the management of resources, territorial conflicts, and the enormous logistical effort required by one of the most popular spectacles of antiquity,” concludes Professor Carreño Sánchez.
Further information:
Carreño Sánchez, R. M. (2026). De venatione ferarum (CTh. 15.11): Aspectos jurídicos sobre la captura y transporte de animales exóticos para los espectáculos públicos. Revista General de Derecho Romano , 46, ISSN: 1697-3046.
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De venatione ferarum (cth. 15.11): Legal aspects of capture and transportation of exotic animals for public spectacles
1-Jul-2026