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
Petronius, Satyricon 59-63
Very critical of society Biased in his own opinion Not meant to educate but display the nature of society and the rich
26
“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
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
“Tell s about that adventure you had.” - Petronius, Satyricon
Humourous ghost stories were often told Sexual innuendos used - sets the tone
28
Roman Tragedy
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
Roman Comedies
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
Plautus
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
Roman Mimes
Had spoken words Included acrobatics, songs, dances, jokes First recorded 170BCE reflected political mood of the day
32
Roman Pantomimes
Silent All parts played by 1 actor - never spoke or sang May be accompanied by a musician
33
Roman Actors
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
Roman Audience
Admission was free Seating hierarchy Could be wildly supportive or brutal in their condemnation