Amphitheater
Gladiatorial games
Origins--Etruscans ( funerary
games?)
• Tomb of the Augurs
Forum-games for Apollo ( bullfighting?)
• even after
amphitheater
Aulus Clodius Flaccus
• Duumvir and quinqennales
In his second quinqennial term as duumvir at the
Games of Apollo in the Forum he presented a
procession of bulls, bull-fighters and goaders, a
company of boxers; on the following day in the
Amphitheater he presented by himself 30 pairs of
athletes and five pairs of gladiators, and with his
colleague he presented 35 pairs of gladiators and
a hunt with bulls, bull-fighters wild boars and
bears and in another hunt he presented various
animals .
Amphitheater (
st
1
c. BCE)
Amphitheater
• Quinqennales (Gaius Quinctius Valgus and
Marcus Porcius) 70 BCE
Amphitheater
• Earliest permanent amphitheater
Cavea and arena, 20,000
spectators
Arena- 219x113 ft.
• 1=ceremonial entrance
Access
Paintings ( 7 foot high parapet)
Gnaeus Alleius Nigidius Maius
• After AD 62– provided a series of paintings
of gladiators and hunting scenes to decorate
the amphitheater. Dedicated at a
performance of athletes.
Organization
•
•
•
•
Permission– local authorities
Procurator—organize games
Financing– local official
Advertising– edicta munerum
reason for games, name of magistrate,
time and place, and number of
gladiators
Gladiators
• Schools- Neronians ( Ludus Neronianus at
Capua)
• Familia (troup)
• Lanista (troup manager)
Numerius Festus Ampliatus
Reasons for Games
•
•
•
•
•
Commemoration of dead
Dedication of new monument
Celebration of military victor
Fulfillment of magistrate’s obligation
Honoring the emperor
Advertisement for Games
Edicta Munera
• Decimus Lucretius Satrius Valens,
permanent priest of Prince Nero, the son of
the emperor, is presenting ten pairs of
gladiators. Decimus Lucretius Valens his
son is presenting ten pairs of gladiators.
They will fight at Pompeii on 8,9,10, 11, 12,
April. There will be a wild-beast hunt
according to the usual rules and awnings.
• CIL 4.3884 ( ILS 5145)
• Velarium
• Food stalls
Gladiators
• Schools- Neronians ( Ludus Neronianus at
Capua)
• Familia
• Lanista
Types attested at Pompeii- Most
popular=Thracian
• Short curved sword
• Small square shield
• Arm guard and high
Leggings. Helmet with
Tail crest ending in
Griffin’s head
Hoplomachos
• Straight sword. Armor and small shield
Myrmillo
Secutor
Retiarius
Eques
• Essedarius
Thracian vs. Murmillo
Barracks, V.5.3 ( 15-20
gladiators)
House of the Gladiators ( not
being used in final years of city)
House of the Gladiators (V.5.3)
Gladiator Barracks ( post 62?)
Gladiator Barracks
• After earthquake
Equipment
•
•
•
•
15 helmets
14 shin guards
6 shoulder guards
Daggers
Parade collection?
• greaves
Order of Events
• Morning- wild animal fights
• Lunchtime- execution of condemned criminals
• Afternoon-gladiatorial competition
1) Parade in show armor with music
2)warm-up
3) Inspection
4) Fighting—Usually 20 pairs
Stabian gate tomb
Monomachos
•
•
•
•
Vicit
Periit
Missit
Decision made by the editor
(Munera sine missione)
Dead- Porta Lititinensis/Victor- Palm and
money
2 or 3 shows per year ( only ¼ have more than
10 fights
Gladiatorial program (Libelli
muneri) ( graffito-CIL IV 2508)
Threx, Myrmillo
Pugnax NER III vicit
Murranus NER III Periit
Hoplomachus, Threx
Cycnus IUL VIIII vicit
Atticus IUL XIV missus est
Essedarii
Publius Ostorius LI missus est
Scylax IUL XXVI vicit
Tomb grafitti ( Nolan games)
• 3 dead out of 18 ( 1 in 6)
CIL 4.8055 and 56
• Oceanus, a freedman winner of 13 matches,
won/ Aracintus, a freedman, winner of 9
matches, lost
• Severs, a freedman, winner of 13 matches
lost/ Albanus, a freedman of Scaurus,
winner of 19 matches won.
Riot 59 CE
Imperial Action
• “The emperor himself ( Nero) instructed the
Senate to investigate the affair. The Senate
passed it to the consuls. When they
reported back, the Senate debarred Pompeii
from holding any similar gathering for ten
years. Illegal associations in the town were
also dissolved; and the sponsor of the show
and his fellow instigators of the disorder
were exiled” (Tacitus Annales 14.17)
Nero lifts ban in 64 CE
• Ban seems to have applied to gladiators
only. Other athletes performed.
Terracotta figurines
• Popularity
• tintinabulum
Sex Appeal ?
• Celadus the Thracian makes all the girls
sigh. (CIL 4. 4497)
• Cresces, the net –man, holds the hearts of
all the girls. (CIL 4356 (ILS 5142d)
Palaestrae (Pompeii)
Grand Palaestra
460x 350 ft. with central swimming pool
Grand Palaestra(Juventus?) or
spillover from
amphitheater/latrines
Herculaneum
Palaestra
360 ft.x
260 ft.