Roman Spectacle Flashcards
How was otium decided?
Leisure-time often made clear class-differences and the preference of free-time use
How else was class status evident through spectacle?
Seating in the theatres were organized by class
What events as spectacle were popular?
Chariot racing, theatrical events, armed fighting between humans, contests involving beasts, and criminal executions
What was chariot racing characterized by? (Spending, location, and organization)
Big spending, the circus maximus popular venue, 12 contestants and 1 track organized into 4 factions: reds, whites, blues, and greens
What else was the circus maximus used for?
Primary forum of communication between emperor and his subjects
What literary evidence of chariot racing popularity is there?
Pliny’s letters: “it is the racing colours which they favour and the racing colours that fire their love” - stark similarity to modern fan culture (e.g. ferrari fans and red)
What were the two distinctions in spectacles?
Agonistic and epideictic?
What was the agonistic division?
Local contests and panhellenic games (organized in 4 year cycles)
What were epideictic performances?
Mime and pantomime with low-status performers
What was the imperial presense in the games?
Stepped in to bring order, while also granting eiselastic status to the victor (lifetime pension)
What is the first evidence of gladiatorial combat?
Tomb paintings from Paestum
Was the first gladiatorial exhibition munera or ludi and who was it for?
Aristocratic munera for the funeral of L. Junius Brutus Pera
Did ludi include gladiatorial contests?
Not at first
What did the cost for munera look like during the augustan age?
Skyrocket in price, he struggled to find people for aedileship and had to fund events himself - he also banned munera sine missione
What did entertainment look like under Tiberius?
Placed restrictions on expenses that would cover local munera
