Gladiator Torn Apart by Lion: Ancient Artifact Reveals Horrible Early Christian Persecution
Perhaps one of the strangest and most terrifying archaeological finds to-date was just uncovered.
Recently, the remains of a Roman gladiator were unearthed, and the condition of his skeleton shows how he may have died: by a lion’s bite.
According to the Daily Mail, this is the very first piece of evidence to exist between a lion and gladiator. It is believed that the man was between 26 and 35 years old, and also endured head trauma.
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“The bite marks were likely made by a lion, which confirms that the skeletons buried at the cemetery were gladiators, rather than soldiers or slaves, as initially thought,” said Malin Holst from the University of York.
Looking at the mark on the skeleton, the hip bone of the man was torn into by the animal, being the most probable factor that led to his death.
Not only is this find huge for the historical confirmation that yes, Roman gladiators were real and fought terribly ferocious creatures, but it also provides a chilling insight to the reality of the early church.
For years, we’ve known that the early church was persecuted and had heinous crimes committed against them. One of the ways that the Roman government is believed to have murdered Christians is by throwing men, women and children into these arenas to be eaten by the same types of beasts.
Gladiators, forced to battle wild animals for sport, were often sacrificed to entertain the bloodthirsty crowds. Similarly, Christians in the early church were subjected to this same horrific fate, with many thrown to lions and other beasts as a form of execution. The brutal treatment of believers for their faith stands as a stark reminder of the unimaginable sacrifices made by those who paved the way for the gospel to spread across the world.
It is crucial for modern-day Christians not to take lightly the immense suffering endured by our brothers and sisters in Christ throughout history. Their unwavering faith and perseverance in the face of such violence and cruelty should fill us with deep gratitude and reverence.
Rather than becoming complacent, we are called to honor their legacy by standing firm in our own faith, recognizing the cost of the gospel, and ensuring that we remain faithful in our pursuit of Christ, no matter the cost.
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Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.
