Elagabalus
Emperor Elagabalus made exceptional jokes to his friends. He locked drunk people in one room with lions, leopards or bears, from which he previously removed fangs and claws (the so-called exarmati).
When they woke up in the morning or at night face to face with lions, bears, and panthers, many died of fear.
At other times, he would simply display animals in the living room during feasts to scare the guests.
Sources
- Historia Augusta, 25.1
- McKeown J. C., A Cabinet of Roman Curiosities: Strange Tales and Surprising Facts from the World's Greatest Empire, 2010
