St. Paul and the Beasts: In the Arena or Elsewhere?

A venator (specialized hunter) shown fighting a lioness in the arena (late 1st c AD). From Augusta Emerita (Mérida, Spain).

damnatio ad bestias?

As a Roman citizen, Paul was legally protected from being sentenced to damnatio ad bestias (execution by wild animals), a punishment typically reserved for non-citizens or the lowest social classes. Consequently, his references to fighting beasts or being “delivered from the mouth of the lion” are usually considered as symbolic descriptions of surviving life-threatening riots and legal trials.

Video Tour:

“Paul and the Beasts in the Amphitheater?”

The Roman Amphitheater in Trier: A Gateway to Ancient Germany

View to the Trier Amphitheater today.

The Trier Amphitheater is a premier example of Roman engineering

Built in the second century AD, the Trier Amphitheater is a remarkable relic of the Roman Empire's northern power, once seating up to 20,000 spectators for gladiatorial contests and animal hunts. Its unique design integrates a natural hillside into its structure, while the preserved subterranean cellars beneath the arena floor still reveal where prisoners and animals were held before their entry. Today, this UNESCO World Heritage site serves as a dramatic venue for historical reenactments and concerts, allowing visitors to walk the same vaulted tunnels used by ancient performers.

Video tour:

“The Roman Amphitheater at Augusta Treverorum”

Roman Engineering Marvels: Inside Constantine’s Throne Room in Trier

Roman Engineering on Display

The brilliance of Roman engineering is on full display in the throne room of Constantine the Great, known today as the Aula Palatina in Trier, Germany. Built around 310 AD, this massive brick basilica contains the largest single-room hall surviving from the ancient world, remarkably standing without the support of a single internal column. Its clever optical illusions, such as windows that decrease in size toward the apse, were expertly designed to make the hall appear longer and the Emperor even more monumental to those approaching his throne.

Today, this UNESCO World Heritage site serves as a powerful testament to the architectural mastery of the late Roman Empire, featuring walls over 3 meters thick and an interior height of 33 meters.

The Video Experience: Constantine’s Throne Room in Trier, Germany

A Morning in Trier: German Breakfast & Roman Ruins

The Porta Nigra is the best preserved Roman city gate north of the Alps. It links the ancient past to today’s city.

Trier Travels: Coffee, Croissants, and Colosseums

Mark arrives in Trier and immediately dives into the local culture with a stop for a classic German-style breakfast. Surrounded by 2,000 years of history, there’s no better way to fuel up for a day of exploring Rome’s northern capital than with fresh local bread and a strong coffee. Watch the video below to join him for his first taste of Germany's oldest city!

Video Experience: Mark Arrives in Trier