HISTORY 4130 6.0
The Inauguration of the Flavian Amphitheater,
AD 80
Genevieve Durigon
Selected Bibliography
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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
3rd 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
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Concept of Amphitheater
 Curio, 53 BC
http://int.tourisme.ville-arles.fr/UK/a2/a2a1.htm
Wooden amphitheaters built shortly thereafter
First stone amphitheater in Rome
 Built by Statilius Taurus, 29 BC.
 Provided venue for Roman Spectacle
 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
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Enormous capacity
 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
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Cassius Dio Cocceianus (Book LXVI), Suetonius
(Titus, 7) & Martialis (de spectaculis liber)
100-day festival
Marcus Valerius Martialis
AD 43-117
 Naval battles (artificial lake)
 Infantry battles
 Gladiatorial Shows (munera)
 Wild beast hunts (venationes)
http://www.hermetic.com/sabazius/martial.htm
http://www.roman-empire.net/articles/pics/gladiators-colosseum/StoraxRelief.jpg
Function of the Amphitheater
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Venue for Roman
Spectacle
 Particularly
bloodsport
 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
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Origins
Mythic & Religious Associations
virtus (Coleman 1997, Futrell 1997, Edmondson 1997)
Spectacle & Social Relations
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http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/rgls/ho_81.10.245.htm
Promotes social unity
 Spectators vs. participants
(Futrell, 1997 &
Edmondson, 1997)
 Crime & Punishment
Reinforces Social
Demarcations (Edmondson,
1997)
 Vertical
 Horizontal
Political Propaganda
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Provide entertainment
 Reassure the masses
Reenact historical events
and/or recent battles
 Social identity
 Self-validating
Distraction from bad
government
http://www.indiana.edu/~c494troy/Empire/tomb_gladiator_frieze.jpg
Gift Giving & Reciprocity for the
Politically Ambitious
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Gauge/sway public
opinion (Coleman, 1997 &
Edmondson, 1997)
Give gift of entertainment
to the masses and gain
favour
 Place in social order is
maintained or elevated
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Or is it?
http://www.fotosearch.com/thumb/ICL/ICL154/BIM_092.jpg
Thoughts to the Contrary:
Potential Theme of Essay
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Bloodsport became an industry integral to the Roman
bureaucracy
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Spectacle became part of tradition
 Effectiveness as a political tool is questionable
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Amphitheater as arena for social politics
 Over-stated
The End
Any comments? Thoughts?
Concerns? Questions?