 Carpophorus was a skilled bestiarius , specializing in fighting animals in the arena , and is mentioned again by Martial , who compares him to Hercules and praises his abilities in dispatching a bear , a leopard and a lion of " unprecedented size " . A frieze from the Temple of Vespasian and Titus ( Templum Divi Vespasiani ) in the Roman Forum shows events similar to those described by Martial . Two separate sets of decoration show a rhinoceros confronting a bull and a bestarius , possibly Carpophorus , with a spear , facing a lion and a leopard . Carpophorus was not the only beast slayer worthy of mention : another of Martial 's epigrams refers to a woman equalling Hercules 's feat of slaying the Nemean Lion . 
