Gladiators:Violence and Spectacle in Ancient RomeDescription |
The games comprised gladiatorial fights, staged animal hunts (venationes) and the executions of convicted criminals and prisoners of war. Besides entertaining the crowd, the games delivered a powerful message of Roman power: as a reminder of the wars in which Rome had acquired its empire, the distant regions of its far-flung empire (from where they had obtained wild beasts for the venatio), and the inevitability of Roman justice for criminals and those foreigners who had dared to challenge the empire's authority. Though we might see these games as bloodthirsty, cruel and reprehensible condemning any alien culture out of hand for a sport that offends our sensibilities smacks of cultural chauvinism. Instead one should judge an ancient sport by the standards of its contemporary cultural context. This book offers a fascinating and fair historical appraisal of gladiatorial combat, which will bring the games alive to the reader and help them see them through the eyes of the ancient Romans. It will answer questions about gladiatorial combat such as: What were its origins? Why did it disappear? Who were gladiators? How did they become gladiators? What was their training like? How did the Romans view gladiators? How were gladiator shows produced and advertised? What were the different styles of gladiatorial fighting? Did gladiator matches have referees? Did every match end in the death of at least one gladiator? Were gladiator games mere entertainment or did they play a larger role in Roman society? What was their political significance?  |
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Features |
Gladiatorial games were the ultimate statement of power in Ancient Roman society, and interest surrounding the subject has resonated throughout history. Gladitorial Games: Theatre of Power and Cruelty provides a fascinating expose of the life of the gladiators and the games themselves. - Exposes what it was actually like to be a gladiator - who were they, how were they trained, who they fought.
- Details every aspect of gladiators themselves and the mechanics of the games
- Goes behind the myths and legends of gladiators - corrects wrongly held common assumptions
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Table of Contents |
Preface 1. Cultural Context and Origins of Gladiator Combat 2. Recruitment and Training of Gladiators 3. The Munus in Action 4. Brief History of the Munus 5. Brief History of the Venatio 6. Roman Amphitheater and Colosseum 7. Gladiators in Film |
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Back Cover |
"Roger Dunkle’s book is singular in its mix of clear, lucid and approachable writing with a meticulous presentation of classical sources and scholarship. This is a thorough and well-organized study of the history of the gladiatorial games from early Republic to Empire; and of the popular role of these games, including their advertisement and how the life or death of combatants was decided. Fascinating and engrossing!" Patrice D. Rankine, Associate Professor of Classics, Purdue University Roger Dunkle here shows us the games through Roman eyes – both those who watched and those who fought. He gives a fascinating insight into the lives of the gladiators and the spectators, while also discussing their wider political significance and their changing role as the Roman Republic became the Roman Empire. Anyone who is interested in the Roman psyche will find this book essential and gripping reading. |
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Author |
Before his retirement, Roger Dunkle was Professor of Classics at Brooklyn College, City University New York. His previous publications include 'Classical Origins of Western Culture' (Brooklyn University Press). |
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