The Roman Games Historical Sources in

This sourcebook presents a wealth of material that casts light on the rich tradition of Roman spectacle, with special focus on gladiatorial combat and chariot racing.

Alison Futrell is Associate Professor of Roman History at the University of Arizona in Tucson and author of Blood in the Arena: The Spectacle of Roman Power (1997). Her current research interests are in representations of gender and power, both in the ancient past and in modern popular culture. Her recent projects include the cultural history of Spartacus and a monograph on Barbarian Queens.

Illustrations

viii

Preface

ix

Acknowledgments

xi

The Politics of the Arena

1

(51)

Origin and Growth of Games

1

(10)

Games and the Roman state

2

(2)

Origins of gladiatorial combat

4

(3)

Origins of wild animal shows

7

(1)

Roman spectacle overseas

8

(3)

Spectacle and Roman Politics

11

(18)

Politics and shows

11

(3)

Costs

14

(4)

Control

18

(4)

Violence

22

(2)

Shows as political assembly

24

(5)

Imperial Spectacle

29

(23)

Ordinary spectacle

30

(3)

The emperor and the arena

33

(3)

The emperor and political spectacle

36

(7)

Gladiators outside Rome

43

(9)

The Venue

52

(32)

Republican Arenas

53

(6)

Temporary structures in Rome

57

(2)

Amphitheaters

59

(8)

Disaster and control

61

(1)

The Colosseum

62

(4)

Military amphitheaters

66

(1)

Special features

67

(1)

Circuses

67

(10)

Features of the Circus Maximus

73

(3)

Circus as cosmos

76

(1)

Naumachiae

77

(3)

Stratification and Seating

80

(4)

A Day at the Games

84

(36)

Preparation and Pompa

84

(5)

Venationes

89

(1)

Meridiani

89

(5)

Munera

94

(9)

The armatures

95

(4)

The combats

99

(4)

Good Spectacles vs. Bad Spectacles

103

(1)

The Other Show: Audiences at the Games

104

(9)

Dangerous games

107

(3)

Special treats

110

(1)

Food, spectacular food

111

(1)

Sparsiones

111

(2)

Inaugural Games at the Flavian Amphitheater

113

(2)

Commodus' Games

115

(2)

Tainted by the Crowd

117

(3)

The Life of the Gladiator

120

(40)

Where Did Gladiators Come From?

120

(18)

Prisoners of war

121

(1)

Condemned criminals

122

(3)

Slave gladiators and the Spartacan war

125

(5)

Gladiators and status

130

(2)

Free gladiators

132

(2)

Choosing gladiatorial status

134

(1)

Glory

135

(3)

Life in the Ludi

138

(5)

Death or Survival

143

(3)

Sexy Gladiators

146

(1)

Death and Choice

147

(1)

Gladiator Familiae

148

(5)

Female Performers: Gladiatrices and Ludia

153

(3)

Crimes of Status: Elites in the Arena

156

(2)

Imperial Gladiators

158

(2)

Christians and the Arena

160

(29)

Rome and the Christians: The Official Relationship

160

(5)

The Neronian persecution

161

(2)

Trajan's policy

163

(2)

Christian Denunciation of the Arena

165

(4)

The Arena and Christian Identity

169

(3)

Martyr Acts

172

(14)

Christian Rome and the Arena

186

(3)

Chariot Races and Water Shows

189

(33)

Chariot Races

189

(29)

The events

191

(7)

Charioteers

198

(7)

The horses

205

(2)

The colors

207

(3)

Circus fans

210

(3)

Emperors as fans

213

(1)

Fan clubs and unrest

213

(2)

The Nika revolt

215

(3)

Water Shows

218

(4)

Timeline of Roman History

222

(7)

Glossary of Terms and Names

229

(3)

Notes

232

(13)

Suggestions for Further Reading

245

(3)

Index

248

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The Roman Games Historical Sources in Translation

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials