In the arenas the spectacles often began with animal which performed arena acts ; then followed the deadly fights of the gladiators who were generally slaves, war prisoners or criminals. Usually they were men but at times appeared also some women. Cadavers were carried away on strechers and sand raked up to cover the blood.

Instead, if a gladiator happened to be wounded, he entrusted his fate to the crowd and to the emperor: if this one put his thumb up, it meant safety ; down: death.
Animals were arriving to Rome from North Africa and Middle East.