CC 302/347
INTRO TO ANCIENT ROME
Outline for
Lecture 19: Entertainment & Ideology (ii).
Amphitheater
- gladiatorial shows known as munera
- fights were between gladiators - usually slaves
. gladiators usually fought each other but sometimes
fought wild animals.
- the largest amphitheater was the Colosseum.
Dedicated in 80 CE; capacity 50,000
- every city would have an amphitheater. Typical
capacity for a moderately-large city 10,000
- few Romans objected to munera: gladiatorial contests
persisted until 5th century CE
The Show
- originally munera were entertainment at
funerals.
- seating by social status.
- gladiatorial ritual: banquet; parade; salute to patron
- fight usually involved two gladiators with different
weaponry
- the fans expected a vigorous contest: timid fighters
prodded with hot pokers etc.
- not all fights ended in death: wounded gladiator
appealed to audience (which gave thumbs up/thumbs down -- or
the equivalent Roman gestures: thumb touches forefinger,
thumb points back)
The Gladiators
- recruitment mostly from slaves and POW's
- training of gladiators (in schools) was supervised by
special coaches known as lanistae
- gladiator started by taking a grave oath, the
sacramentum gladiatorium
- the popularity of individual gladiators could be
enormous.
- gladiators who reached retirement became trainers,
bodyguards, bouncers etc.
Political Aspects
- during Empire, gladiatorial shows closely associated
with the emperor
-emperor used games to display his majesty
- senatorial class less strongly associated with
production of munera
- in 1st century CE elite males start appearing as
contestants in amphitheatrical events.
- under Pax Romana, arena became a means to win public
recognition
- gladiatorial combat provided an opportunity to
demonstrate aristocratic quality of courage in a public
setting.
Other Events in the Amphitheater
- punishment of Criminals
- animal-hunts known as venationes
- naval battles fought with boats (naumachia)
|