Transcript Roman Entertainment - Bishop Ireton High School

Roman Entertainment
Public v. Private Entertainment
Without electricity, the Romans did
not have many of the leisure-time
options we do. Private parties
almost always centered around
dinner (cena) and music or dancers
might perform. Only the wealthy
had the facilities for these.
The lower classes relied almost entirely
on public displays (spectacula) for
entertainment. These were funded by
wealthy members of society for political
reasons, and generally had some
religious purpose.
Theatre: Tragedy and Comedy
The Romans loved theatre, which they mostly borrowed from the Greeks. Great
wooden platforms would be set up (permanent theatres were not allowed until
the time of Pompey) for these shows.
These plays did not involve many actors or great changes in scenery. Tragedies,
somber stories about the fall of heroes, were popular with the upper classes,
while most others preferred comedies, which were generally very slapstick in
ancient Rome.
Amphitheatre
The amphitheatre was for blood sports – Romans loved to watch violence and death
for entertainment. A very popular but expensive spectacle was the venatio – when
exotic beasts would attack each other or be hunted by gladiators in the arena; this was
something of a cross between a safari and a trip to the zoo.
Animals were also often
involved in damnatio – the
execution of public criminals
in the arena, often by forcing
them to kill each other or
letting them be eaten by wild
beasts.
Modern culture is fascinated by gladiators – men who fought in the arena, originally as
part of funeral games. Gladiators trained in a particular style like the ‘Thracian’ or
‘Reticularius.’ Some were even purposefully ridiculous, like the much-later ‘clibinarius.’
However, gladiators were well-trained and expensive men, and apparently generally
survived combat even when they lost. They might be deserters from the legion, violent
criminals, or even civilians who sold themselves as gladiators for a chance at fame.
Ampthitheatres were some of the most impressive and recognizable buildings in the
Roman world. The Flavian Amphitheatre, also known as the Colosseum, still stands.
Many ranks of seating for tens of thousands of spectators rose in a stadium fashion,
and the bottom was covered in sand (harena) to make clean-up easier.
On special occasions, some
amphiteatres could be
flooded, or lakes could be
used for naumachia – ship
battles with fleets crewed by
gladiators.
Circus races
The Roman circus was a round track for races. Chariot races were possibly the most
popular entertainment in ancient Rome, and the largest building was the Circus
Maximus. Races could be very dangerous, and successful aurigae (charioteers) could
be very famous. A good driver drove dangerously close to the metae at either end of
the spina. There were four teams in ancient Rome – the Reds, Whites, Blues, and
Greens.