Bronze Handle Depicting 'Barbarian' Grappling With a Lion Discovered, Suggests Beasts Were Used for Executions in Roman Britain

Archeologists unearthed a bronze key handle from a hotel site in England in 2021. The illustrations on the excavated item gave researchers an idea regarding certain practices that took place in Roman Britain, BBC reported. Experts claim that the handle implies that lions were used during execution in that era. Findings regarding the bronze handle were published in Britannia.

The item measures 120mm (4.5 inches) in size and features the scene of an unarmed barbarian grappling with a lion, Daily Mail reported. This image was surrounded by four naked young men with expressions of fear in their faces on the artifact.

Archeologists uncovered the Roman-Britain item from the city center, on a site that is now a Novotel in Leicester. The handle was buried in the floor of an establishment that researchers speculate was a grand townhouse in the Roman-Britain empire.  

Researchers associated with the dig were from the University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS), Smithsonian Magazine reported. They conducted various examinations on the object and dated it back to 200 C.E. Along with the bronze handle they also uncovered Roman streets, mosaic floors, and a theater.

Dr John Pearce, senior lecturer in archaeology at King's College London finds the artifact to be 'surprising,' Daily Mail reported. He claims that this is the first time experts have any evidence of Roman Britains importing "lions for the execution of captives in public spectacles in Leicester." Before this finding, researchers assumed that such executions happened exclusively in Rome during the gladiator games. 

During such executions lions and other exotic animals were sent to fight with prisoners in front of a large number of spectators. The fight went on until one of the parties died. The event served both as amusement for the public and execution for authorities. Many of these fights took place in a grand stadium called the Colosseum.

If executions as depicted in the artifact took place in the Roman-Britain empire, then that means officials imported the animals to Britain for the spectacle. Considering the time these practices were taking place, this is a huge feat, according to researchers, and hence they are looking forward to analyzing this fact in detail, Daily Mail reported.