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Latin > Roman Entertainment Sources > Flashcards

Roman Entertainment Sources Flashcards

Lit & Culture 2

1
Q

Amphitheatre at Pompeii

A

70BC
Able to seat 20,000 spectators
Awnings for shade
Tiered seating allowed all to see the arena
Exclusive VIP entrances & seating
Arena for gladiator fights & chariot races
Evidence of graffiti promoting gladiatorial fights

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2
Q

Colosseum in Rome

A

On the Palatine Hill - R&R - cultural importance
Able to seat 50,000 spectators
Tiered seating by status
Trapdoor system - entertainment for spectators as they couldn’t see where the gladiators were coming from
Underground tunnel system - storage of animals, scenery
Emperor’s box near the stage - important and visible
80 entrances - very popular
Awnings to keep spectators cool

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3
Q

Hoplomachus

A

heavily armed like a Greek hoplite
helmet
round shield
pitted against the murmillo
- re-enactment of Rome’s war against the Greeks

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4
Q

Secutor

A

heavily armed
helmet with 2 small eye-holes
greave on left leg
arm protector
legionary style shield
trained to fight the retiarius

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5
Q

Murmillo

A

heavily armed
fish-crested helmet
short greaves
curved, rectangular shield
short sword

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6
Q

Retiarius

A

lightly armed
large net
trident
arm guard
shoulder guard
small dagger

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7
Q

Thracian

A

lightly armed
crested helmet with visor
armoured greaves (both legs)
protector on sword arm & leg
small shield
curved sword

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8
Q

Venator

A

lightly armed
spear
net
performed tricks with animals and wild animal hunts

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9
Q

Bestiarius

A

no armour
heavily armed - firebrands, whips, spears, bows, lances
found and handled animals

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10
Q

“To Amabilis, a heavily armed gladiator, born a Dacian, a man of 13 fights, cheated by Fate, not man.”

A

says he was a secutor
inscription after death - importance
“Dacian” - gladiator by slavery
“13 fights” - very skilled and successful
ambiguous death - suggests he didn’t die in the arena

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11
Q

Murmillo Helmet

A

fin-like decor
little mobility - made of heavy iron
fish crest
visor - fought in the sun
has facial protection without limiting visibility
covered the arch of the neck

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12
Q

Venator relief

A

with a lioness - expensive to export - power of the empire
column in the background - grandeur of the arena
full depiction of venator
defined pectoral muscles - lust for gladiators
sword, shield, short tunic, greaves and belt all visible

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13
Q

“gladiator’s mistress”
- Juvenal ‘Satires’

A

suggests a long term relationship
not unusual
gladiators were allowed relationships

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14
Q

“his face were ugly, such as the place rubbed sore by his helmet, a huge growth right on his nose, and a nasty discharge from a constantly running eye.”
- Juvenal ‘Satires’

A

“helmet” - what type of gladiator
suggests he fought frequently
cannot understand why she loves him when he is so ugly

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15
Q

“It’s steel that they love.”
- Juvenal ‘Satires’

A

loved the thought of gladiators
seen as sex symbols

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16
Q

Juvenal’s Satire

A

doesn’t describe the fights or lives
secondary source
exaggeration for comic effect
aggressive when attacking the ills of society
opinion based

17
Q

Large Theatre at Pompeii

A

tiered seating - cavea
VIP seating - orchestra - made of marble
tribunals - reserved for sponsors/main VIPs
doesn’t tell anything about the plays/actors
velarium- shield from the sun
semi-circular for acoustics
5000 seats

18
Q

Depiction of the Circus Maximus

A

primary evidence
carceres - starting point
centre figure is different than the other charioteers
on the lid of a sarcophagus - part of Rome’s cultural identity, not uncommon, very popular
spina - dolphins to count laps, highly decorated to highlight the wealth of the empire
fairly crude - not finished to a high quality
expensive - most likely painted
does give a sense of the excitement

19
Q

Charioteer, Ostia

A

fresco - painted onto wet plaster
depicts a charioteer is his victory lap - holding palm leaf of victory
horse is rearing up - dramatic
need for corroborating evidence
Ostia is a port town - wealthy merchants would have lived there

20
Q

“To the spirits of the departed. Epaphroditus, charioteer of the Red faction, won 178 times and with the Purples as a freedman he won 8 times. Beia Felicula made this for her well-deserving husband.”

A

Standard feature to address the departed
Greek name - slavery
impressive number of wins
common to state who paid for it
“Purples” introduced by an emperor - royal colour

21
Q

“The seat boundary forces us together”
- Ovid, Amores

A

Suggest a division between classes
Very physical
Crowded

22
Q

“by waving the programme?”
- Ovid, Amores

A

Advertisement for the races

23
Q

“But call them back, Romans, give the sign! Flap your togas everyone!”
- Ovid, Amores

A

Crowd engagement
False starts
Signal to restart the race

24
Q

Ovid, Amores 3.2

A

Designed to entertain, not teach
Augustan age poet (31BC - 19AD)
Love poetry - humourous
Designed for men

25
Q

Petronius, Satyricon 59-63

A

Very critical of society
Biased in his own opinion
Not meant to educate but display the nature of society and the rich

26
Q

“And a calf was brought in on a two-hundred pound plate: it was boiled whole and wearing a helmet. Following it came Ajax…”
- Petronius, Satyricon

A

Extravagant
“Helmet” - ludicrous for comic effect, attempting to show off
“Boiled whole” - needed a large pan - expensive
“Ajax” - Ancient Greek, showing off knowledge of literature

27
Q

“Tell s about that adventure you had.”
- Petronius, Satyricon

A

Humourous ghost stories were often told
Sexual innuendos used - sets the tone

28
Q

Roman Tragedy

A

Very little survives
Drew on Greek tradition & tragedies
‘Fabulae Praetextae’ form
Keen to explore themes from early Roman history
Tragic singers (cantica) were popular among Roman audiences

29
Q

Roman Comedies

A

Based on New Greek comedies
‘Fabulae Palliatae’ form
Men wore a tunic & cloak
Women wore a palla
Often has props and exaggerative masks to indicate each specific character

30
Q

Plautus

A

Believed to have adapted Greek plays
Many similar features in his plays: love affairs, confusion of identity, father-son conflict, cunning slaves, dumb masters

31
Q

Roman Mimes

A

Had spoken words
Included acrobatics, songs, dances, jokes
First recorded 170BCE reflected political mood of the day

32
Q

Roman Pantomimes

A

Silent
All parts played by 1 actor - never spoke or sang
May be accompanied by a musician

33
Q

Roman Actors

A

Held a very low social status by 1st Century BC
Legally infamis - denied Roman citizenship
Organised in a troupe under a troupe leader called a dominus
Drawn from the ranks of slaves or lower class citizens

34
Q

Roman Audience

A

Admission was free
Seating hierarchy
Could be wildly supportive or brutal in their condemnation

Latin (9 decks)

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