In Rome's Colosseum and other amphitheaters in cities scattered across the sprawling ancient Roman Empire, gladiatorial spectacles were not merely human-versus-human affairs. Gladiators also were pitted against animals.

Researchers compared puncture marks on an 1,800-year-old skeleton in the UK to various animal bites, and concluded that the individual was likely bitten by a lion.

Are you not entertained? New analysis from the bones of an ancient gladiator discovered in York suggests that British fighters may have been attacked by ferocious big cats during arena battles. View o