Amphitheatres and Gladiators

Question 1

How were amphitheatres designed?

Answer 1

It was a large oval building without a roof and it had tiers of seats surrounding the arena

Question 2

Why did amphitheatres have canvas awnings?

Answer 2

They were supported by ropes and pulleys, spread over part of the seating arena to give shelter from the sun and rain

Question 3

How many people did the amphitheatre hold?

Answer 3

24,000 people and the number of seats were being increased when the city as destroyed

Question 4

How were spectators arranged in the arena?

Answer 4

They were divided up and allocated seats according to their social status

Question 5

What would be seen on the walls around the arena?

Answer 5

Colourful, vivid paintings with images of animals and gladiators or wild animal hunts

Question 6

How many shows took place in Pompeii?

Answer 6

20 days of shows per year and 5 days is the longest series of gladiatorial shows we know of at Pompeii

Question 7

How did the amphitheatres design adapt to the people with different social statuses?

Answer 7

A system of separate entrances and tunnels gave access to the lower tiers of seating while external staircases led to the upper tiers for the masses

Question 8

Did it cost money to see fights at the amphitheatres?

Answer 8

Spectators paid no admission fee. Shows were given by wealthy individuals at their own expense

Question 9

How did animals and gladiators enter the arena?

Answer 9

Through the ceremonial entrance and left via the southern entrance

Question 10

How were the seats designed?

Answer 10

They were made from wood but they were replaced by stone ones when finances allowed

Question 11

How were gladiator shows advertised?

Answer 11

Advertisement of gladiatorial shows were painted on the walls of buildings

Question 12

What do the inscriptions on the advertisements provide?

Answer 12

A unique insight into the presentation of the shows by members of the local elite and illustrate aspects of their organisations

Question 13

What do some of the elite do at the end of their lives regarding gladiatorial shows?

Answer 13

They had depicted on their tombs the games they had presented to the populace

Question 14

What did the advertisement mention?

Answer 14

The date, giver of the games, types of show to be exhibited and additional attractions for the audience

Question 15

Why did some Pompeiians present lavish games?

Answer 15

To win popularity and prestige which will help them to climb up the ladder of local political advancement

Question 16

How did a day of a gladiatorial show begin?

Answer 16

Soon after dawn on the day of the show, the spectators would begin to take their places

Question 17

How would the games begin?

Answer 17

A trumpet blared and priests came out to perform the religious ceremony with which the games began

Question 18

What did the gladiators do when they entered in procession?

Answer 18

They paraded round the arena and saluted the sponsor of the show. The gladiators were then paired off to fight each other.

Question 19

What happened in AD 59?

Answer 19

A riot occurred between Pompeians and Nucerians which caused an immense amount of bloodshed

Question 20

What was the result of the riot?

Answer 20

The Roman Senate banned gladiatorial shows for ten years from Pompeii and probably removed the politicians at the time from office

Question 21

What were the Pompeiians reactions?

Answer 21

They were still very happy with their victory and commemorated it in a painting and in graffiti