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the claim

Romans executed Christians by feeding them to lions.

the verdict
CONTESTED PARTIAL
Recorded sources
4 sources for · 4 against

Counts group repeated records of the same source within each side. They do not measure evidence strength or source independence.

Is it true that Romans executed Christians by feeding them to lions?

Partly. Several sources indicate Romans did sometimes execute Christians by exposure to beasts (damnatio ad bestias), with one reference noting only Tertullian mentions lions specifically. Other sources describe Roman executions of Christians by ordinary means such as burning or beheading, not feeding to lions.

Verdict: CONTESTED PARTIAL · 4 sources for, 4 against · Last checked

Evidence for · 4
Were Christians ever publicly executed for their faith in Ancient Rome?
2013
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Were Christians ever publicly executed for their faith in Ancient Rome?. (2013). skeptics.stackexchange.com. https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/16910/were-christians-ever-publicly-executed-for-their-faith-in-ancient-rome

Evidence against · 4
Pliny the Younger on Christians
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Pliny the Younger on Christians. (n.d.). en.wikipedia.org. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pliny_the_Younger_on_Christians

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More for · 3
Androcles and the Lion
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Androcles and the Lion. (n.d.). gutenberg.org. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/4003

Unique osteological evidence for human-animal gladiatorial combat in Roman Britain
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Unique osteological evidence for human-animal gladiatorial combat in Roman Britain. (n.d.). doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0319847

Damnatio ad bestias - Wikipedia
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Damnatio ad bestias - Wikipedia. (n.d.). en.wikipedia.org. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damnatio_ad_bestias

More against · 3
BOOK-ZID1322157
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BOOK-ZID1322157. (n.d.). arachne.dainst.org. https://arachne.dainst.org/entity/2825431

Does Religion Demand Social Change?
1969
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Does Religion Demand Social Change?. (1969). doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1177/004057366902600102

セプティミウス・セウェルス帝治下のキリスト教徒迫害
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セプティミウス・セウェルス帝治下のキリスト教徒迫害. (n.d.). cir.nii.ac.jp. https://cir.nii.ac.jp/crid/1050282812987586304

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held for human review17 Oct 2026
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