Description
Book SynopsisThis sourcebook presents a wealth of material relating to every aspect of Roman spectacles, especially gladiatorial combat and chariot racing.
- Draws on the words of eye-witnesses and participants, as well as depictions of the games in mosaics and other works of art.
- Offers snapshots of a day at the games and the life of a gladiator.
- Includes numerous illustrations.
- Covers chariot-races, water pageants, naval battles and wild animal fights, as well as gladiatorial combat.
- Combines political, social, religious and archaeological perspectives.
- Facilitates an in-depth understanding of this important feature of ancient life.
Trade Review"A lively and wide-ranging collection of sources on Roman public spectacle. Alison Futrell has made an excellent selection and she introduces and links the extracts with very lucid and helpful commentary. This book will be enormously beneficial for students and helpful to scholars too."
—Jonathan Edmondson, York University, Toronto
"This excellent book promises to be an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the violent entertainments of the Roman arena. Futrell's collection of sources enables readers to see the broader context of the games, offering a first rate collection of material for life outside the amphitheater, as well as for events that took place within it."
—David Potter, University of Michigan
"Futrell's main purpose is to provide interesting, unusual material, and this she does ... Her brief explanatory notes are insightful, learned and intended to provoke further research. Those interested in ancient Rome will welcome this fine sourcebook ... Highly recommended."
—Choice
"This very useful book provides a wide-ranging collection of sources of different types on this ever-popular branch of Roman civilisation, offering valuable insights into aspects of Roman public entertainment. . . a worthwhile purchase for the school library."
—Journal of Classics Teaching
Table of ContentsIllustrations viii
Preface ix
Acknowledgments xi
1 The Politics of the Arena 1
Origin and Growth of Games 1
Games and the Roman state 2
Origins of gladiatorial combat 4
Origins of wild animal shows 7
Roman spectacle overseas 8
Spectacle and Roman Politics 11
Politics and shows 11
Costs 14
Control 18
Violence 22
Shows as political assembly 24
Imperial Spectacle 29
Ordinary spectacle 30
The emperor and the arena 33
The emperor and political spectacle 36
Gladiators outside Rome 43
2 The Venue 52
Republican Arenas 53
Temporary structures in Rome 57
Amphitheaters 59
Disaster and control 61
The Colosseum 62
Military amphitheaters 66
Special features 67
Circuses 67
Features of the Circus Maximus 73
Circus as cosmos 76
Naumachiae 77
Stratification and Seating 80
3 A Day at the Games 84
Preparation and Pompa 84
Venationes 89
Meridiani 89
Munera 94
The armatures 95
The combats 99
Good Spectacles vs. Bad Spectacles 103
The Other Show: Audiences at the Games 104
Dangerous games 107
Special treats 110
Food, spectacular food 111
Sparsiones 111
Inaugural Games at the Flavian Amphitheater 113
Commodus’ Games 115
Tainted by the Crowd 117
4 The Life of the Gladiator 120
Where Did Gladiators Come From? 120
Prisoners of war 121
Condemned criminals 122
Slave gladiators and the Spartacan war 125
Gladiators and status 130
Free gladiators 132
Choosing gladiatorial status 134
Glory 135
Life in the Ludi 138
Death or Survival 143
Sexy Gladiators 146
Death and Choice 147
Gladiator Familiae 148
Female Performers: Gladiatrices and Ludia 153
Crimes of Status: Elites in the Arena 156
Imperial Gladiators 158
5 Christians and the Arena 160
Rome and the Christians: The Official Relationship 160
The Neronian persecution 161
Trajan’s policy 163
Christian Denunciation of the Arena 165
The Arena and Christian Identity 169
Martyr Acts 172
Christian Rome and the Arena 186
6 Chariot Races and Water Shows 189
Chariot Races 189
The events 191
Charioteers 198
The horses 205
The colors 207
Circus fans 210
Emperors as fans 213
Fan clubs and unrest 213
The Nika revolt 215
Water Shows 218
Timeline of Roman History 222
Glossary of Terms and Names 229
Notes 232
Suggestions for Further Reading 245
Index 248
