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• 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

Gladiators

• Latin– Gladus = Sword– Gladiator = Swordsman

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

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

The Circus Maximus

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

• 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

In class assignment