I looked up the word "Funambulus" in the excerpt above, and found another interesting paragraph.

FUNA¢MBULUS (kalobavthV,
scoinobavthV), a rope-dancer. The art of
dancing on the tight rope was carried to
as great perfection among the Romans
as it is with us (Hor. Epist. ii.1.210;
Terent. Hecyr. Prol 4.34; Juv. iii.80;
Bulenger, de Theat. 1.42). If we may
judge from a series of paintings
discovered in the excavations (Ant.
d'Ercol. T. iii. p160-165), from which
the figures in the annexed woodcut are
selected, the performers placed
themselves in an endless variety of
graceful and sportive attitudes, and
represented the characters of
bacchanals, satyrs, and other imaginary
beings. Three of the persons here exhibited hold the thyrsus, which may
have served for a balancing pole; two are performing on the double pipe,
and one on the lyre: two others are pouring wine into vessels of different
forms. They all have their heads enveloped in skins or caps, probably
intended as a protection in case of falling. The emperor Antoninus, in
consequence of the fall of a boy, caused feather-beds (culcitras) to be laid
under the rope to obviate the danger of such accidents (Capitol. M. Anton.
12). One of the most difficult exploits was running down the rope (Sueton.
Nero, 11) at the conclusion of the performance. It was a strange attempt of
Germanicus and of the emperor Galba to exhibit elephants walking on the
rope (Plin. H.N. viii. 2; Sueton. Galb. 6; Sen. Epist. 86).


Smith's
Dictionary