In Ancient Rome, a popular form of entertainment for the masses was the venationes, in which criminals, captives and sometimes gladiators fought battles with wild beasts. Lions, tigers, bears, wolves, even elephants and ostriches would be used in such gruesome displays.
On special occasions, vast amphitheatres would be filled with water and real boats would stage mock naval battles, with hippopotamuses and crocodiles thrown in for a bit of added jeopardy. The Colosseum itself would be used for such a naumachia, with fleets of vessels battling it out. You can imagine the glee in crowds with which some poor unfortunate would lose his footing and be consumed by a hungry croc, screaming in agony, blood and giblets everywhere.
