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The Roman games : a sourcebook / Alison Futrell.
- Format:
- Book
- Author/Creator:
- Futrell, Alison, 1962-
- Series:
- Blackwell sourcebooks in ancient history
- Language:
- English
- Subjects (All):
- Games--Rome--History.
- Games.
- Games--Social aspects--Rome.
- Amphitheaters--Rome.
- Amphitheaters.
- Rome--Social life and customs.
- Rome.
- Rome (Empire).
- Manners and customs.
- Physical Description:
- xii, 253 pages : illustrations ; 26 cm.
- Place of Publication:
- Malden, MA : Blackwell Pub., 2006.
- Summary:
- This sourcebook presents a wealth of material that casts light on the rich tradition of Roman spectacle, with special focus on gladiatorial combat and chariot racing. Drawing on literary descriptions, inscriptions, reliefs, mosaics, and archaeological features, The Roman Games offers a range of political, social, and religious perspectives.
- Featuring the accounts of eyewitnesses and participants, the book reconstructs the experience of "a day at the games" and the expectations of "the life of a gladiator." The editor provides historical framework and analytical commentary for each of the entries, as well as a glossary of technical terms and a timeline to give additional context for students and general readers.
- Contents:
- 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.
- Notes:
- Includes bibliographical references and index.
- ISBN:
- 1405115688
- 1405115696
- OCLC:
- 60323172
- Publisher Number:
- 9781405115681 (hbk. : alk. paper)
- 9781405115698 (pbk. : alk. paper)
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