One exceptional example would be the Emperor Commodus, as depicted in the movie Gladiator. Commodus believed himself to be the reincarnation of Hercules and sought to imitate his martial accomplishments before the eyes of the Roman public. He, of course, was never in any real danger from his human opponents who (as recorded by Dio Cassius) would yield to him after token resistance rather than fight seriously, or were infirm and could not put up a fair fight in the first place. He also enjoyed killing exotic animals, such as leopards and ostriches, from a safe distance; Herodian writes that he had a circular platform built in the arena from atop which he would throw javelins at them.

Commodus was assassinated not long after rumors spread that he intended to appear before the Senate in animal skins, the attire of a gladiator, and be sworn in as consul (after arranging for the death of the currently elected consul.)