HISTORY 4130 6 0 The Inauguration of the

HISTORY 4130 6. 0 The Inauguration of the Flavian Amphitheater, AD 80 Genevieve Durigon

Selected Bibliography n n n n Martialis de spectaculus liber. Shakelton Bailey, trans & ed (1993) Epigrams Volume I (Harvard Unviersity Press) pp 1239. Cassius Dio Cocceianus LXVI. E Cay & H Foster, trans (1925) Roman History: Volume III Books 61 -70 (Harvard University Press) pp 311 -313. Suetonius Titus Kathleen Coleman (1997) ‘The contagion of the throng’: absorbing violence in the Roman world. Eur Rev 5: 401 -417. Alison Futrell (1997) Blood in the arena (Austin, Texas: University of Texas Press). CIL, vol XIV, no 3, 014 (=Dessau no 6, 252) N Lewis & M Reinhold (2000) Roman Civilizations Volume II 3 rd Ed. (New York: Columbia University Press) p 274. William J Slater, ed. (1997) Roman theatre and society. (Ann Arbor, Michigan: University of Michigan Press) pp 68 -112. Chapter by J Edmondson

Brief History of the Amphitheater n n n Concept of Amphitheater n Curio, 53 BC http: //int. tourisme. ville-arles. fr/UK/a 2 a 1. htm Wooden amphitheaters built shortly thereafter First stone amphitheater in Rome n Built by Statilius Taurus, 29 BC. n Provided venue for Roman Spectacle n Previously held in temporary structures in open field or in the Forum

amphitheatrum Caesareum Vespasian Domitian Titus http: //www. accla. org/images/vespasian. jpg http: //www. accla. org/actaaccla/domitian. html AD 85 AD 75 http: //www. accla. org/actaaccla/titus. html AD 80

The Flavian Amphitheater http: //www. legionxxiv. org/colosseum/ http: //depthome. brooklyn. cuny. edu/classics/gladiatr/colcoin. htm

The Flavian Amphitheater http: //www. legionxxiv. org/colosseum/

The Flavian Amphitheater http: //www. legionxxiv. org/colosseum/

The Flavian Amphitheater http: //subject. jccssyl. edu. hk/subjects/history/subhtml/library/images/Rome/COLOSSEUM. jpg

The Flavian Amphitheater n n n Enormous capacity n 40 -60, 000 people Architectural model for all other amphitheaters Symbol of Roman culture http: //www. gardkarlsen. com/rome/colosseum_from_Via_dei_fori_imperiali. jpg

The Inauguration of the Colosseum n n Cassius Dio Cocceianus (Book LXVI), Suetonius (Titus, 7) & Martialis (de spectaculis liber) 100 -day festival Marcus Valerius Martialis AD 43 -117 n Naval battles (artificial lake) n Infantry battles n Gladiatorial Shows (munera) n Wild beast hunts (venationes) http: //www. hermetic. com/sabazius/martial. htm http: //www. roman-empire. net/articles/pics/gladiators-colosseum/Storax. Relief. jpg

Function of the Amphitheater n Venue for Roman Spectacle n Particularly bloodsport n munera (gladitorial shows) & venationes (wild beast hunts) http: //www. vroma. org/images/mcmanus_images/bestiarii. jpg

Symbolism of Bloodsport http: //www. nashfordpublishing. co. uk/archaeology/images/bignor_gladiators. jpg n n n Origins Mythic & Religious Associations virtus (Coleman 1997, Futrell 1997, Edmondson 1997)

Spectacle & Social Relations n n http: //www. metmuseum. org/toah/hd/rgls/ho_81. 10. 245. htm Promotes social unity n Spectators vs. participants (Futrell, 1997 & Edmondson, 1997) n Crime & Punishment Reinforces Social Demarcations (Edmondson, 1997) n Vertical n Horizontal

Political Propaganda n n n Provide entertainment n Reassure the masses Reenact historical events and/or recent battles n Social identity n Self-validating Distraction from bad government http: //www. indiana. edu/~c 494 troy/Empire/tomb_gladiator_frieze. jpg

Gift Giving & Reciprocity for the Politically Ambitious n n Gauge/sway public opinion (Coleman, 1997 & Edmondson, 1997) Give gift of entertainment to the masses and gain favour n Place in social order is maintained or elevated n Or is it? http: //www. fotosearch. com/thumb/ICL 154/BIM_092. jpg

Thoughts to the Contrary: Potential Theme of Essay n Bloodsport became an industry integral to the Roman bureaucracy n Spectacle became part of tradition n Effectiveness as a political tool is questionable n Amphitheater as arena for social politics n Over-stated

The End Any comments? Thoughts? Concerns? Questions?