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The Roman Games: Historical Sources in Translation / Edition 1 - Paperback | Diverse Reads

The Roman Games: Historical Sources in Translation / Edition 1

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This 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.
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    ISBN-13: 9781405115698

    Media Type: Paperback

    Publisher: Wiley

    Publication Date: 01-30-2006

    Pages: 272

    Product Dimensions: 6.80(w) x 9.70(h) x 0.85(d)

    Series: Blackwell Sourcebooks in Ancient History

    Alison Futrell is Associate Professor of Roman History at the University of Arizona in Tucson and author of Blood in the Arena: The Spectacle of Roman Power (1997). Her current research interests are in representations of gender and power, both in the ancient past and in modern popular culture. Her recent projects include the cultural history of Spartacus and a monograph on Barbarian Queens.

    Table of Contents

    Illustrations 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