For more information about the Roman Games go to

http://classicalnerd.blogspot.com/ http://classicalnerd.wordpress.com/

PLEASE NOTE

This publication, & the sites listed above, contain material of an adult nature, including explicit photosfeaturing nudity, sexual arousal, physical and sexual 'abuse', and various forms of sexual activity,and contains

very strong language.

NOT

view if you may be offended.

This publication may

NOT

be viewed by those below the age of

years

A DAY AT THE GAMES

A BRIEF STUDY OF ROMAN POPULAR CULTURE

Roman civilisation, a cultural milieu which we mainly take for granted as the second of the twofoundations of Western culture, Greece & Rome.What divides the Romans from our contemporary society is the institution of slavery, whichenabled them to categorise huge numbers of individuals as 'non-people' who could be obscenelyabused and treated with ultimate cruelty – for the amusement and sadistic satisfaction of their masters.

INTRODUCTION

The Roman priesthood, rituals, festivals and customs all had their origins with the Etruscans, and itwas only during the Republic that these primitive aspects of Roman civilisation were modified bythe importation of Greek ideas and ideals.The Roman gods became associated with the ancient Greek deities, and the rude, ugly Etruscantemples were rebuilt as classically proportioned, Hellenic style shrines.It is therefore conjectured that the custom of gladiatorial combat, rather than being Etruscan inorigin, also originated with the Greek settlers in southern Italy.The earliest known Roman gladiator schools (ludi) were inCampania.Tomb frescoes from Paestum (4th century BCE) show pairedfighters, with helmets, spears and shields, in a propitiatory funeral blood-rite that anticipates early Roman gladiator games.Compared to these images, supporting evidence from Etruscantomb-paintings is tentative and late. The Paestum frescoes mayrepresent the continuation of a much older tradition, acquired or inherited from Greek colonists of the 8th century BCE.Livy dates the earliest Roman gladiator games to 264 BCE, in theearly stages of Rome's First Punic War against Carthage. Decimus Iunius Brutus Scaeva had threegladiator pairs fight to the death in Rome's 'cattle market' Forum (Forum Boarium) to honour hisdead father, Brutus Pera.