The Roman Games
Historical Sources in Translation
Published on 9. February 2009
272 pages
978-1-4051-5315-7 (ISBN)
Description
This sourcebook presents a wealth of material relating to everyaspect of Roman spectacles, especially gladiatorial combat andchariot racing.
* Draws on the words of eye-witnesses and participants, as wellas 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 wildanimal fights, as well as gladiatorial combat.
* Combines political, social, religious and archaeologicalperspectives.
* Facilitates an in-depth understanding of this important featureof ancient life.
Reviews / Votes
"A lively and wide-ranging collection of sources on Romanpublic spectacle. Alison Futrell has made an excellent selectionand she introduces and links the extracts with very lucid andhelpful commentary. This book will be enormously beneficial forstudents and helpful to scholars too." Jonathan Edmondson, York University, Toronto "This excellent book promises to be an invaluable resourcefor anyone interested in the violent entertainments of the Romanarena. Futrell's collection of sources enables readers to seethe broader context of the games, offering a first rate collectionof material for life outside the amphitheater, as well as forevents that took place within it." David Potter, University of Michigan "Futrell's main purpose is to provide interesting, unusualmaterial, and this she does ... Her brief explanatory notes areinsightful, learned and intended to provoke further research. Thoseinterested in ancient Rome will welcome this fine sourcebook ...Highly recommended." Choice "This very useful book provides a wide-ranging collection ofsources of different types on this ever-popular branch of Romancivilisation, offering valuable insights into aspects of Romanpublic entertainment. . . a worthwhile purchase for the schoollibrary." Journal of Classics TeachingMore details
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
12/2005
1st Edition
Wiley
€42.03
Shipment within 3-4 weeks
Book
12/2005
1st Edition
Wiley
€123.74
Shipment within 3-4 weeks
Person
Alison Futrell is Associate Professor of Roman History at the University of Arizona in Tucson and author of Blood in the Arena: The Spectacle of Roman Power (1997). Her current research interests are in representations of gender and power, both in the ancient past and in modern popular culture. Her recent projects include the cultural history of Spartacus and a monograph on Barbarian Queens.
Content
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 Assemblies.
Imperial Spectacle.
Ordinary Spectacle.
The Emperor and the Arena.
The Emperor as Spectator.
Imperial Spectacle as Political Forum.
Gladiators Outside Rome.
2. The Venue.
Republican Arenas.
No Theaters Please.
Temporary structures in Rome.
Amphitheaters.
Disaster and control.
The Colosseum.
Mixed edifices in the Western Empire.
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.
Power of Life and Death.
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
