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Female beast hunters battled leopards in ancient Rome

By Taylor Mitchell BrownScientific American

Mosaic depictions of a weapon-wielding female gladiator are the first physical evidence showing women in ancient Rome could be skilled beast hunters

In the summer of C. E. 80, Roman emperor Titus opened the Flavian Amphitheater—colloquially called the Colosseum—with a series of games.

According to writings from the time, in one game, women dressed…