The Roman Games: Historical Sources in Translation

Book Overview

This sourcebook presents a wealth of material relating to every aspect of Roman spectacles, especially gladiatorial combat and chariot racing.

Draws on the words of eye-witnesses and participants, as well as depictions of the games in mosaics and other works of art. Offers snapshots of "a day at the games" and "the life of a gladiator". Includes numerous illustrations. Covers chariot-races, water pageants, naval battles and wild animal fights, as well as gladiatorial combat. Combines political, social, religious and archaeological perspectives. Facilitates an in-depth understanding of this important feature of ancient life.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1405115696
• ISBN13: 9781405115698
• Release Date: December 2005
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.8" x 9.7"

Customer Reviews

Thoroughly researched and scholarly, excellently done

This book provides numerous accounts of ancient Roman sources, from Ovid to Cicero. The author's work is thorough--Futrell's guiding passages are juxtaposed between translated passages from Ancient Rome, weaving the entire book together. This books is excellent for researching the overt political nature of Roman games and probably one of the best guides for researching the nature of the gladiator. The ancient passages which Futrell selects are entertaining and informative. Just remember that poets, such as Ovid, have been translated for a strictly serviceable purpose of illuminating the games, and have been stripped of their poetic appeal. This actually helps the book, as it merges with the lively and scholarly prose without turning it into a laborious effort of poetic study. As a book to use for both academic work and reading, this is a fulfilling text. There are many excellent passages and a clearly defined bibliography in the back, making it easy for inquisitive readers to find source texts and pursue their own branches of research. Highly recommended.

Intriguing and insightful look at the Roman Games

This wonderful book will answer all your questions about the Roman games. Included are pictures of various Roman arenas and many well chosen early sources about the games. Spectacle and pagan religious rites combined in the games, and the games themselves grew ever more lavish, and ever bloodier, as the empire expanded. "From fairly early days, animals had been part of the religious festivals...meant to guarantee the good-will of Rome's gods" (p 7). Futrell examines the politics behind the games, with men like Caesar currying support of the mob by putting on games. "The shows offered the opportunity for the audience to express popular feeling on important matters" (p 24) although Ciecero acknowledges that "claques could, through rehearsed chants, manufacture a false 'will of the people'" (p 25). Among the many condemned who were dragged to the arena to be killed were Christians. "The real crime committed by the Christians was...refusing to participate in public religion, Christians threatened everyone by provoking the rage of the gods" (p 162). To give you an idea of just how popular the games were in ancient Rome, consider this: One temporary amphitheater collapsed, according to Tacitus and Dio Cassius, and that killed 50,000 people. Chariot races, gladiators, and water sports are also included in this in depth exploration of the games.