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The Roman games : a sourcebook / Alison Futrell.
- Format:
- Book
- Author/Creator:
- Futrell, Alison, 1962-
- Series:
- Blackwell sourcebooks in ancient history.
- 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.
- Physical Description:
- xii, 253 p. : ill.
- Edition:
- 1st ed.
- Place of Publication:
- Malden, MA ; Oxford : Blackwell Pub., 2006.
- Summary:
- 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.
- Contents:
- Intro
- Illustrations
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- 1 The Politics of the Arena
- Origin and Growth of Games
- Games and the Roman state
- Origins of gladiatorial combat
- Origins of wild animal shows
- Roman spectacle overseas
- Spectacle and Roman Politics
- Politics and shows
- Costs
- Control
- Violence
- Shows as political assembly
- Imperial Spectacle
- Ordinary spectacle
- The emperor and the arena
- The emperor and political spectacle
- Gladiators outside Rome
- 2 The Venue
- Republican Arenas
- Temporary structures in Rome
- Amphitheaters
- Disaster and control
- The Colosseum
- Military amphitheaters
- Special features
- Circuses
- Features of the Circus Maximus
- Circus as cosmos
- Naumachiae
- Stratification and Seating
- 3 A Day at the Games
- Preparation and Pompa
- Venationes
- Meridiani
- Munera
- The armatures
- The combats
- Good Spectacles vs. Bad Spectacles
- The Other Show: Audiences at the Games
- Dangerous games
- Special treats
- Food, spectacular food
- Sparsiones
- Inaugural Games at the Flavian Amphitheater
- Commodus' Games
- Tainted by the Crowd
- 4 The Life of the Gladiator
- Where Did Gladiators Come From?
- Prisoners of war
- Condemned criminals
- Slave gladiators and the Spartacan war
- Gladiators and status
- Free gladiators
- Choosing gladiatorial status
- Glory
- Life in the Ludi
- Death or Survival
- Sexy Gladiators
- Death and Choice
- Gladiator Familiae
- Female Performers: Gladiatrices and Ludia
- Crimes of Status: Elites in the Arena
- Imperial Gladiators
- 5 Christians and the Arena
- Rome and the Christians: The Official Relationship
- The Neronian persecution
- Trajan's policy
- Christian Denunciation of the Arena
- The Arena and Christian Identity
- Martyr Acts
- Christian Rome and the Arena
- 6 Chariot Races and Water Shows.
- Chariot Races
- The events
- Charioteers
- The horses
- The colors
- Circus fans
- Emperors as fans
- Fan clubs and unrest
- The Nika revolt
- Water Shows
- Timeline of Roman History
- Glossary of Terms and Names
- Notes
- Suggestions for Further Reading
- Index.
- Notes:
- Includes bibliographical references and index
- Includes bibliographical references and index.
- ISBN:
- 1-4051-5315-6
- 1-4051-1569-6
- 1-281-21463-9
- 9786612026133
- 9786611214630
- 1-282-02613-5
- OCLC:
- 63165841
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