Animal combats (venationes) were a popular entertainment in the Roman world. Splashy panels of inlaid marble (opus sectile) commemorate these bloody contests several buildings and around Rome. Among most well-known are survivals from 4th century CE Basilica Junius Bassus and, decades later, marble-revetted hall Porta Marina at Ostia. On face it, wall decoration sites memorializes typical activi...