ROMAN ENTERTAINMENT

CIRCUS MAXIMUS

• Means "great" or "large" circus
• It was a chariot racing stadium
• In Rome, Italy
• Largest stadium in Rome

CIRCUS MAXIMUS

• Used for Religious festivals
• The festivals only happened once a year
• Events lasted from one day to half days
• Ludi was the name of games

THEATRE OF ANCIENT ROME

• Livy, a Roman Historian, said they first started theatre in 400 B.C.
• People argue that it began earlier.
• After the Roman Republic they experienced Greek Drama.
• Afterwards, it spread west all the way to England.

THEATRE CHARACTERS IN ANCIENT ROME

• The Adulescens was the protagonist but was foolish.
• The Senex was the father of the Adulescens and liked all of his girlfriends.
• The Virgo didn't have much stage time but was treated as a prize for the
• Adulescens.

FLAVIAN AMPHITHEATER

• Located in Pozzuoli.
• Third largest amphitheater in Italy.
• It can hold up to 20,000 fans.
• In 305 A.D. It was a setting for the persecution of Saint Januarius and Saint
• Proculus.

FLAVIAN AMPHITHEATER

• After they survived being attacked by the wild beast, they were decapitated.

PUBLIC SPECTACLES

• They are usually connected to gladiator shows.
• This was used either a means of execution or a challenge for the man.
• They began in 200 B.C.
• Julius Caesar built the first wooden amphitheater with intentions to host this event.

PUBLIC SPECTACLES

• Because these became so popular the world searched for new beast to slaughter.
• As many as 11,000 were killed each event.
• Although we don't know how long they went on, they were still in existence in the 5th century.

FESTIVALS DEVOTED TO ENTERTAINMENT

• The Ludi were public games used for entertainment in Rome.
• The Ludi often gave thanks to the gods & were large events held during
• religious festivals.
• Later, people used them to influence political opinions & gain support from the public.

FESTIVALS DEVOTED TO ENTERTAINMENT

• Because of their popularity, more and more Ludi were added.
• By the 4th century, there were 176 days out of the year dedicated to the games.
• Games played included theatrical performances, beast hunts, chariot races, & combat.

ANCIENT QUOTE

• "Experience is the teacher of all things"- Julius Caesar

SOURCES

• Wikipedia.com
• http://brittanica.com/
• Brainyquotes.com
• http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/games/g/ludiromani.htm
• http://www.novaroma.org/ludi/html/history.html