Page 173 - Western Civilization A Brief History, Volume I To 1715 9th - Jackson J. Spielvogel

held in theaters. But the most famous of all the public spectacles were the gladiatorial shows.
The Gladiatorial Shows
The gladiatorial shows, which took place in amphitheat- ers, were an integral part of Roman society. The first permanent amphitheater was constructed at Rome in 29 B.C.E. Perhaps the most famous was the Flavian amphi- theater, called the Colosseum, which could seat fifty thousand spectators. Similar amphitheaters, with capaci- ties ranging from a few thousand to tens of thousands, were built throughout the empire. In most cities and towns, the amphitheaters were the biggest buildings, ri- valed only by the circuses for races and the public baths. Where a society invests its money gives an idea of its priorities. Since the amphitheater was the primary loca- tion for the gladiatorial games, it is fair to say that pub- lic slaughter was an important part of Roman culture.
Gladiatorial games were held from dawn to dusk. The main events were contests to the death between trained fighters. Most gladiators were slaves or con- demned criminals and were trained for combat in spe- cial gladiatorial schools (see the Film & History feature on p. 136).
Gladiatorial games included other forms of enter- tainment as well. Criminals of all ages and both sexes were sent into the arena without weapons to face cer- tain death from wild animals who would tear them to pieces. Numerous kinds of animal contests were also staged: wild beasts against each other, such as bears against buffaloes; staged hunts with men shooting safely from behind iron bars; and gladiators in the arena with bulls, tigers, and lions. Enormous resources were invested in the capture and shipment of wild ani- mals for slaughter, and whole species were hunted to extinction in parts of the empire.
These bloodthirsty spectacles were wildly popular with the Roman people. The Roman historian Tacitus said, “Few indeed are to be found who talk of any other subjects in their homes, and whenever we enter a class- room, what else is the conversation of the youths?”12 But the gladiatorial games served a purpose beyond mere entertainment. Like the other forms of public entertainment, they fulfilled both a political and a social function by diverting the thoughts of the idle masses from political unrest. It was said of the emperor Trajan that he understood that although the distribution of grain and money satisfied the individual, spectacles were necessary for the “contentment of the masses.”
Interior of the Colosseum of Rome. The Colosseum was a large amphitheater constructed under the emperor Vespasian and his son Titus. Such amphitheaters, in which gladiatorial contests were held, were built throughout the empire. They varied in size, but the one at Rome was the largest. The Colosseum was named after the Colossus of Nero, a large statue of the first-century C.E. emperor that stood nearby. The scene of many bloody gladiatorial combats, the Colosseum could be used for other spectacles as well. It was flooded for a spectacular naval battle when the emperor Titus held the first games there.
Roman Culture and Society in the Early Empire 135
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