PR-2237IRE Ancient Rome

Roman Life – Entertainment
Amphitheatres
Originally, public games were held as part of some religious festivals, but eventually entertainment
for the citizens became important in itself, and by 100 BC games were held throughout the year.
Military leaders also began to celebrate their victories by organising spectacular private games. One
games celebrating Emperor Trajan’s victory over the Dacians lasted over three months and over 11 000 animals
died during the spectacle. So many animals were imported for the contests that leopards, lions and rhinoceroses
were wiped out in the North African regions of the Empire. A few days before a games, copies of the programme
were nailed on trees or other prominent places.
Whereas theatres were Greek in origin, amphitheatres were Roman and mostly found in the western regions of
the Empire. The first known amphitheatre was found in Pompeii and dates back to the first century BC. The
Colosseum in Rome was begun by Emperor Vespasian and completed in 80 AD by his son, the emperor Titus.
Though there is little archaeological evidence, it is believed that some amphitheatres were flooded in order to
hold mock sea battles between gladiators in small ships. The Colosseum had around 80 numbered entrances to
help spectators to find their seats easily. Huge canvas awnings protected spectators from sun and rain. Below the
arena were the cells which held gladiators, animals and prisoners. The word ‘arena’ literally means ‘sand’,
which was strewn around the ground to soak up blood from the contests.
The training schools for gladiators were taken over by the State in the first century AD as it was feared they could
become private armies of trained fighters and a possible threat to the State. Gladiatorial contests were eventually
banned by the Emperor Honorius (395–423 AD) but modern bullfights like those in Spain, once a region of the
Empire, are a reminder of the ancient Roman games.
At Caerleon, in Wales, are the remains of the only fully excavated Roman amphitheatre in existence in Britain.
Caerleon was built by an Augustan legion and was one of the largest military sites in Europe.
In the year 2000 the ancient Greek tragedy Oedipus Rex was performed in the Colosseum by the Greek National
Theatre, the first spectacle staged there in over 1 400 years. With private donations and millions of pounds a
week from a special lottery, renovations are being carried out on the Colosseum and other important ancient
Roman ruins.
Film companies and other commercial operators have been kept out of the Colosseum to prevent unnecessary
damage. The depiction of the arena in the film Gladiator was done by digital imagery.
TEACHERS
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