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Entertainment in the Roman Empire

Entertainment in the Roman Empire. May 2, 2012. Bread & Circuses. Superficial means of appeasement Key to gaining political power in Rome was to keep people fed and entertained Gladiators and Chariot Races. The Roman Colosseum.

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Entertainment in the Roman Empire

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  1. Entertainment in the Roman Empire May 2, 2012

  2. Bread & Circuses • Superficial means of appeasement • Key to gaining political power in Rome was to keep people fed and entertained • Gladiators and Chariot Races

  3. The Roman Colosseum • The perfect venue for gladiator battles, wild beast hunts and public executions • Construction began in 72AD by Emperor Vespasian, completed in 80 by Titus. • Part of the structure has crumbled away due to earthquakes during the 13th and 14th centuries • Six tiers of seats, could fit 45,000 – 50,000 • Beneath the floor was an elaborate system of passageways, trapdoors, cages to store animals • The Colosseum could be flooded to stage naval battles • Scents would be pumped into the auditorium to mask the stench of blood

  4. Gladiators • Latin • Gladus = Sword • Gladiator = Swordsman

  5. Gladiators • Gladiators were prisoners of war, slaves, criminals sometimes free men • Fights were held mostly on special occasions only. • However, Emperor Trajan once organized a display that lasted 117 days, involved 10,000 gladiators • Fought to the death, most often one on one, sometimes in teams as part of large scale battle reenactments, sometimes against animals • Emperor and his court could signal thumbs up or down to have a gladiator killed or saved. • Free men could win fortunes in gladiatorial combat, slaves could win their freedom

  6. Types of Gladiators • Gladiatorial fights would feature many different types of combatants, armed with different weapons. • Fights were kept interesting by creating different matchings • Retiarius– Net Fighter. Carried a trident, dagger and net. • Secutor - "pursuer" developed to fight the retiarius. Wore helmet and long arm guard. Carried a sword and shield. • Cestus - The cestus was a fist-fighter or boxer who wore a brutal forerunner of the boxing glove. • Dimachaerus - Greek for "bearing two knives,“ they fought using two swords, one in each hand

  7. The Circus Maximus

  8. Like NASCAR, only with chariots and more crashes! • The Circus Maximus seated 250,000 • Track was 550 metres in length, races would be 7 laps • A race would usually contain 8 charioteers, each with a team of 4 horses. • Often 24 races a days, interspersed with acrobatic performances • Crashes were common and often resulted in death of the horses and in some cases the driver. • Famously depicted in the 1959 film Ben-Hur

  9. In class assignment • Create a program for a day at Colosseum or the Circus Maximus • Refer to pages 241 – 243 for details • Make an itinerary of events for the day, be specific • Mention names of gladiators or charioteers • Include ticket price in denarii

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