The Romans gave much importance to the venatio, a term which, according to most sources, suggests spectacular and deadly fights, sometimes only between animals,but also between men and animals.
To replace such gory scenes, there was no lack of performances of domesticated animals that broke up the circus massacres attended by the public.
The venationes also referred to hunting trips to capture exotic animals in the extreme regions of the Empire, such as lions, panthers, elephants and ostriches, to be sent to the amphitheatres. In this way, Rome showed its dominion over the world.
The prestige attributed to the venationes made such representations frequent in mosaics. With this subject, the mosaics also had a celebratory purpose.
