Spectacle in the Roman World - 9781853996962

This well established series explores the culture and achievement of the civilisations of Greece and Rome. Designed specifically for students and teachers of Classical Civilisation at late school and early university level, the series provides an up-to-date collection of accessible guides to the history and institutions, the literature, art and values of the Classical world. Each book provides useful suggestions for further reading and study.

Gladiatorial combat, animal displays, naumachiae and spectacular executions were an important part of Roman culture. The provision of a wide range of purpose-built buildings - from theatres to amphitheatres and circuses - as venues across the Roman Empire is testimony to the popularity and significance of these displays.

In this book Hazel Dodge offers an introduction to the main forms of spectacle in the Roman world (human and animal combat, chariot racing, aquatic displays), their nature, context and social importance. She explores the vast array of sources, ranging from literary to archaeological, that informs the subject, examining the spectacles with special emphasis on their physical setting; she also considers the variation in the provision of venues and their context across the Empire. A final section reviews the modern reception of Roman spectacles, especially those involving gladiators.