The Colosseum in Ancient Rome was the site of brutal gladiatorial combat and other spectacles, but Hollywood often gets the details wrong, according to historian Dan Snow. While the Colosseum did host naval battles, there is no evidence of man-eating sharks, and men riding rhinos into the arena is also a fabrication. Gladiators were mostly slaves, but they were highly trained and valued for their skill and bravery. Only 5% of gladiator fights ended in death, and there is no evidence to support the popular image of the Emperor giving a thumbs up or down to decide a gladiator's fate.