Roman entertainment

Question 1

days dedicated to the gods with games were called what?

Answer 1

ludi

Question 2

what did the ludi always begin with?

Answer 2

theatrical shows (ludi scaenici)

Question 3

what were the “circenses” and when did they occur in the celebrations?

Answer 3

chariot races and they followed the ludi scaenici.

Question 4

what were the oldest games called?

Answer 4

Ludi Romani, started by the kings

Question 5

under what 3 circumstances did the romans choose to hold ludi festivals?

Answer 5

1. to get the gods attention, 2. to honor military men or 3. celebrate victory of war

Question 6

How could you tell someone’s class at these festivals?

Answer 6

the poor were in the back and the senate/equestrians had seats in the front. But, all citizens could at least attend

Question 7

During the time of Domitian, were comic/tragedy plays common at the ludi? What type of acting was popular?

Answer 7

Plays lost popularity later in the Roman reign. But, acting through pantomimes and mimes had become vogue. They danced and acted all the parts out without word but with musical accompaniment.

Question 8

How did mimes differ from pantomimes?

Answer 8

mimes were slapstick farces on themes from everyday life. (kinda like clowns in a circus)

Question 9

What was the famous place that held the ludi ?

Answer 9

Circus Maximus (which held 250,000 people)

Question 10

What was most popular at the Circus Maximus?

Answer 10

the ludi circenses (chariot races) because people liked to place bets.

Question 11

How many teams (factiones) were in the ludi circenses?

Answer 11

4, red, blue, green and white (eventually Domitian added purple and gold until he died)

Question 12

what was the “mappa” used for?

Answer 12

it’s the white napkin that was dropped to start the chariot races.

Question 13

How many races would there be in a day?

Answer 13

about 24 races (seven laps per race)

Question 14

what was the distance of a lap?

Answer 14

5 miles ( so each race was 5 miles times 7 laps = 35 miles per race)

Question 15

How long did it take to run 1 lap (5 miles)?

Answer 15

15 minutes. So each race took about 105 minutes.

Question 16

What was the name of the central platform and what was it used for?

Answer 16

spina. it was where each of the 7 eggs (slabs) of wood/marble was lowered every time the lead chariot made a lap.

Question 17

what was the significance of the “meta”?

Answer 17

it was the turning point on the track. If a chariot went too slow around the curve, he’d be overtaken. too fast and he would crash.

Question 18

why did charioteer carry a knife?

Answer 18

if he crashed, his reigns tied him to his chariot so he needed to be able to escape.

Question 19

what were the “munera”

Answer 19

the gladiator shows paid for by the upper-class and eventually put out only by the emperors

Question 20

what were the “venationes”?

Answer 20

It’s like the munera but with exotic beast and animals such as 20 elephants stampeding the gladiators. Again, all this was in the Circus…. until something bigger was built.

Question 21

What permanent arena was built for gladiator shows by Vespasian (Domitian’s father) and openned by his brother Titus?

Answer 21

The colosseum “Amphitheatrum Flavium” which fit

50,000 people and it was free to get in

Question 22

What parades were of the highest popularity ?

Answer 22

miitary victories. The highest honor was to march through the city as a “triumphator” (during the empire - only the emperor had that opportunity)