The Roman games : a sourcebook / / Alison Futrell

• Record Nr.: UNINA9910971846103321
• Autore: Futrell Alison <1962->
• Pubbl/distr/stampa: Malden, MA ; ; Oxford, : Blackwell Pub., 2006
• ISBN: 9786612026133; 9786611214630; 9781405153157; 1405153156; 9781405115698; 1405115696; 9781281214638; 1281214639; 9781282026131; 1282026135
• Edizione: [1st ed.]
• Descrizione fisica: xii, 253 p. : ill
• Collana: Blackwell sourcebooks in ancient history
• Classificazione: 232; 796/.0937/6
• Disciplina: 796/.0937/6
• Soggetti: Games - Rome - History; Games - Social aspects - Rome; Amphitheaters - Rome; Rome Social life and customs
• Lingua di pubblicazione: Inglese
• Formato: Materiale a stampa
• Livello bibliografico: Monografia
• Note generali: Includes bibliographical references and index
• Nota di bibliografia: Includes bibliographical references and index.
• Nota di contenuto: Intro -- Illustrations -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- 1 The Politics of the Arena -- Origin and Growth of Games -- Games and the Roman state -- Origins of gladiatorial combat -- Origins of wild animal shows -- Roman spectacle overseas -- Spectacle and Roman Politics -- Politics and shows -- Costs -- Control -- Violence -- Shows as political assembly -- Imperial Spectacle -- Ordinary spectacle -- The emperor and the arena -- The emperor and political spectacle -- Gladiators outside Rome -- 2 The Venue -- Republican Arenas -- Temporary structures in Rome -- Amphitheaters -- Disaster and control -- The Colosseum -- Military amphitheaters -- Special features ; -- Circuses -- Features of the Circus Maximus -- Circus as cosmos -- Naumachiae -- Stratification and Seating -- 3 A Day at the Games -- Preparation and Pompa -- Venationes -- Meridiani -- Munera -- The armatures -- The combats -- Good Spectacles vs. Bad Spectacles -- The Other Show: Audiences at the Games -- Dangerous games -- Special treats -- Food, spectacular food -- Sparsiones -- Inaugural Games at the Flavian Amphitheater -- Commodus' Games -- Tainted by the Crowd -- 4 The Life of the Gladiator -- Where Did Gladiators Come From? -- Prisoners of war -- Condemned criminals -- Slave gladiators and the Spartacan war -- Gladiators and status -- Free gladiators -- Choosing gladiatorial status -- Glory -- Life in the Ludi -- Death or Survival -- Sexy Gladiators -- Death and Choice -- Gladiator Familiae -- Female Performers: Gladiatrices and Ludia -- Crimes of Status: Elites in the Arena -- Imperial Gladiators -- 5 Christians and the Arena -- Rome and the Christians: The Official Relationship -- The Neronian persecution -- Trajan's policy -- Christian Denunciation of the Arena -- The Arena and Christian Identity -- Martyr Acts -- Christian Rome and the Arena -- 6 Chariot Races and Water Shows.; Chariot Races -- The events -- Charioteers -- The horses -- The colors -- Circus fans -- Emperors as fans -- Fan clubs and unrest -- The Nika revolt -- Water Shows -- Timeline of Roman History -- Glossary of Terms and Names -- Notes -- Suggestions for Further Reading -- Index.
• Sommario/riassunto: This sourcebook presents a wealth of material relating to every aspect of Roman spectacles, especially gladiatorial combat and chariot racing. Draws on the words of eye-witnesses and participants, as well as depictions of the games in mosaics and other works of art. Offers snapshots of "a day at the games" and "the life of a gladiator". Includes numerous illustrations. Covers chariot-races, water pageants, naval battles and wild animal fights, as well as gladiatorial combat. Combines political, social, religious and archaeological perspectives. Facilitates an in-depth understanding of this important feature of ancient life.