Emperors and Gladiators Midterm

Questions and Answers

When and where did stone amphitheater originate?

Republican Italy

What is the oldest known permanent Roman amphitheater?

Amphitheater of Pompeii

What is the key element in the architecture of Roman amphitheaters?

foundation

Which emperor dedicated the Colosseum at Rome?

Titus Signup and view all the answers

Amphitheaters were used for gladiatorial fights and stadia for athletic performances.

True Signup and view all the answers

Munus (plural munera) is the Latin word for gladiatorial fight.

True Signup and view all the answers

When is dated the oldest recorded example of a gladiatorial fight?

264 BC Signup and view all the answers

What of the following is a type of gladiator?

Murmillo Signup and view all the answers

Hunters fought against gladiators during the venationes.

False Signup and view all the answers

Naumachia is the Latin word for naval battle.

True Signup and view all the answers

In which provinces is common the hybrid theater-amphitheater?

Gaul, Germany, Britain Signup and view all the answers

How many seats did the Colosseum have?

between 45,000-55,000 Signup and view all the answers

The first construction model adopted for the amphitheaters was the vaulted superstructure.

False Signup and view all the answers

The coverage system for amphitheaters (velaria) was adopted at the end of the Republic.

True Signup and view all the answers

How many amphitheaters are known in the Roman world?

more than 200 Signup and view all the answers

Plutarch and Cassius Dio are the main historical sources for the story of Spartacus.

False Signup and view all the answers

The Spartacus rebellion began in which year?

73 BCE Signup and view all the answers

Spartacus was a member of the Roman auxiliary troops, prior to being sold as a gladiator and leading the rebellion.

True Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome for Rome after the Spartacus revolt?

An end to the slave wars after the defeat of Spartacus Signup and view all the answers

How did the movie Spartacus change the interpretation of historical events, according to Hoffman?

Through the presentation of Spartacus as a noble leader for the people rather than the elites. Signup and view all the answers

The popularization of Spartacus can be attributed originally to the 1951 novel by Howard Fast which led to three subsequent films about this specific gladiator.

True Signup and view all the answers

During which historical period did the Spartacus rebellion take place?

Late Republic Signup and view all the answers

How did Spartacus' army likely reach a size of 70,000 troops?

by incorporating slaves and poor free Romans Signup and view all the answers

Who was Crassus?

A Roman praetor in charge of stopping the Spartacus' revolt Signup and view all the answers

The condemnation to a gladiatorial school was a penalty that a Roman judge could impose to a criminal.

True Signup and view all the answers

The Roman elite were expected to hold gladiatorial games and became a part of maintaining status and power in Roman politics.

True Signup and view all the answers

Crucifixion was a punishment reserved solely for Christians.

False Signup and view all the answers

Under Nero, some women were willing to fight in the arena.

True Signup and view all the answers

What is the Lex Tullia?

Prohibited public figures from offering gladiatorial spectacles in the two years preceding their elections. Signup and view all the answers

In the movie 'Spartacus', the protagonist claims to be born into a military family.

False Signup and view all the answers

What is the owner of a gang of gladiators and responsible for their training called?

Lanista Signup and view all the answers

The rudis was a wooden sword that gladiators received at the beginning of their careers.

False Signup and view all the answers

What does the nickname 'Caligula' mean in Latin?

Little boot Signup and view all the answers

Some gladiators could share the barrack with a female companion and have a family.

True Signup and view all the answers

Crassus ordered the excavation of an immense trench on the island of Sicily to catch Spartacus' army.

False Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the functions of an amphitheater?

Special entertainment Signup and view all the answers

What is the time period for the first stone amphitheater?

80-70 BCE Signup and view all the answers

Define arena in relation to the amphitheater.

oval part in the center; in Latin means sand. Signup and view all the answers

What is Fossa Bestiaria?

underground room where gladiators wait and where wild beasts are waiting to come up to the arena. Signup and view all the answers

What are the Ima Cavea?

Distinguished citizen seats; lowest seating. Signup and view all the answers

What is the media cavea?

middle seats Signup and view all the answers

What is the summa cavea?

upper seating Signup and view all the answers

What is a vomitorium?

small doors connected to corridors that spectators use to move from top to bottom or vice versa. Signup and view all the answers

What is the velarium?

A canvas awning drawn over the amphitheater to protect the audience from rain or sun. Signup and view all the answers

Name some functions of amphitheaters.

chariot races, venationes (wild beast hunt), Naumachia (naval battle), executions. Signup and view all the answers

What are the dates of Augustus' reign?

31 BC-14AD Signup and view all the answers

What was the Battle of Actium?

a battle between Marcus Antony and Octavian for control of the empire. Octavian won in 31 B.C. Signup and view all the answers

What were some of Augustus' accomplishments as Emperor?

nearly doubled the size of the empire; added territories in Europe and Asia minor; spent much of his time outside of Rome consolidating power in the provinces and instituting a system of taxation; expanded the Roman network of roads; founded Roman postal service; remade Rome with a grand forum and police and fire departments. Signup and view all the answers

Who are the sources for the story of Spartacus?

Plutarch, Appian Signup and view all the answers

Describe Spartacus.

freeborn Thracian; free Thracian tribes probably supplied auxiliaries for the Roman forces in Macedonia; Spartacus spent some years serving as a paid auxiliary for the Romans and then, having turned against them, became a deserter, then a bandit, and finally, thanks to his bodily strength, a gladiator; condemned to gladiatorial school. Signup and view all the answers

What is the 2nd largest amphitheater?

Capua; where Spartacus was Signup and view all the answers

Describe the Spartacus Revolt (73 - 71 BCE).

In 73 BC a group of 70-80 gladiators, mainly Gauls and Thracians, resentful of their inhumane treatment in the training school in Capua hatched a plan to escape. The leaders were Spartacus, Crixus, and Oenomaus. Sought refuge in Mount Vesuvius. Signup and view all the answers

What is decimation?

former Roman military discipline in which every 10th man in a group was executed. Signup and view all the answers

What was the result of the battle of Silarus river?

Spartacus and 60,000 of his men were slain by Crassus and his army in 71BC. Signup and view all the answers

What does munus mean?

gift or duty Signup and view all the answers

What was the first gladiatorial spectacle?

264 B.C. given in the forum Boarium for the funeral of Giunius Brutus Pera. Signup and view all the answers

What is the date of the first game?

105 BC Signup and view all the answers

What does the Lex Tullia outline?

law that prohibited public figures from offering gladiatorial spectacles in the two years preceding their election to the public. Signup and view all the answers

Who was the Lanista?

bought, sold, and rented his gladiators to whoever wished to sponsor a munus; responsible for their training. Signup and view all the answers

What is a gladiator's life like?

It was hard but the life in the ludus was not equivalent to that of imprisonment; could come and go freely, and some, like Spartacus, shared their barracks with a female companion; some gladiators lived in private houses, going to the school only to train; many of them had families; most of the gladiators were prisoners-of-war and slaves earmarked by their owners for gladiatorial career, some were criminals condemned to death (noxii) or to forced labor. Signup and view all the answers

What is a rudis?

wooden sword to symbolize his service at the end of his career. Signup and view all the answers

What is Tiberius known for?

Julio-Claudian Dynasty; 42BC-AD37; treason trials. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Caligula?

Roman Emperor who succeeded Tiberius and whose uncontrolled passions resulted in manifest insanity; AD12-AD41; booty cons; made his horse senator; slept with his sister; stabbed in underground corridor. Signup and view all the answers

What do we know about Claudius?

Roman Emperor after his nephew Caligula was murdered; 10 BC-54AD; annexed Britain in 43AD. Signup and view all the answers

Describe Nero.

slept with his sister then married her then had her executed; slept and killed his mother; kicked his second wife to death while pregnant; initiated the Great Fire of Rome; AD68 committed suicide. Signup and view all the answers

What were Vespasian's contributions as Emperor?

Emperor of Rome and founder of the Flavian dynasty who consolidated Roman rule in Germany and Britain and reformed the army and brought prosperity to the empire; 69-79AD; increased taxes and reduced spending; legalization of imperial power; Colosseum/Temple to Peace; invested in education and medicine. Signup and view all the answers

What are some achievements of Titus?

79-81AD; Completed Colosseum in 80AD; Two issues: Mt. Vesuvius erupts 79; Fire of Rome 80AD. Signup and view all the answers

Describe Domitian's rule.

Roman emperor from 81 to 96 C.E; Builds palace in Palatine Hill; insisted on his divinity; assassinated in 96AD; senate issued damnatio memoriae. Signup and view all the answers

What is damnatio memoriae?

The Roman decree condemning those who ran afoul of the Senate. Those who suffered damnatio memoriae had their memorials demolished and their names erased from public inscriptions. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the Murmillo gladiator.

large round or rectangular shield; lead legging on left leg; short sword with straight blade or lance; protected by a helmet that had a visor and was decorated by feathers. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the Thraex gladiator.

similar to murmillo; shield was smaller; sword is shorter and curved blade; crest shaped like a griffin and sided with plumes; opposed murmillo. Signup and view all the answers

What defines a Hoplomachus gladiator?

similar to Thraex; high greaves; spear and small round shield. Signup and view all the answers

What identifies the Retiarius gladiator?

net and trident; short sword. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Secutor gladiator known for?

usually fought against Retiarius; sword; rectangular shield; helmet completely closed. Signup and view all the answers

What are the countries with the largest amphitheater distribution?

Italy, Africa, Britain, Spain Signup and view all the answers

What is Siracusa known for?

amphitheater in Sicily; earliest; mixture of Greek and Roman architecture; large entrance with stores; stables for horses; large fountain; parking areas for chariots. Signup and view all the answers

Describe Thermae Himerenses.

larger than the majority of known examples in Northern Africa. Signup and view all the answers

What is a catina?

smaller than that of Siracusa. Signup and view all the answers

What is Tauromenion?

structure converted by the Romans into amphitheaters. Signup and view all the answers

What is Tyndaris known for?

Greek theater transformed into amphitheater. Signup and view all the answers

What does Material Culture show?

an important side business. Signup and view all the answers

What is known about Trajan?

98-117AD; from the province of Spain; first emperor that comes outside of Italy; conquering Dacia; extended the empire to its greatest extent; had so much money; alleviated congestion; basilica. Signup and view all the answers

What is Hadrian known for?

Born in Spain; Hadrian's wall; passionate about venationes; nicknamed Graeculus (little Greek); homosexual; Antinous; rebuilt Pantheon. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Cemetery of Driffield Terrace of York associated with?

late 2nd early 3rd CE; decapitation burials; 71% decapitated; large number of young males; slightly taller; 1/3 fractured teeth; main hypothesis: cemetery for gladiators; at least 16 gladiators came outside the province of Britain. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Amphitheater Origins and Architecture

Stone amphitheaters originated in Republican Italy.
The oldest known permanent Roman amphitheater is the Amphitheater of Pompeii.
A key architectural element in Roman amphitheaters is the foundation.

Colosseum and Its Uses

Emperor Titus dedicated the Colosseum in Rome.
The Colosseum could accommodate between 45,000 to 55,000 spectators.
Amphitheaters were venues for gladiatorial fights, while stadia hosted athletic performances.
Munus (plural munera) refers to gladiatorial fights in Latin.

Gladiatorial Context and History

The oldest recorded gladiatorial fight dates back to 264 BC.
Various types of gladiators include the Murmillo, Thraex, Hoplomachus, Retiarius, and Secutor.
Venationes, or wild beast hunts, did not feature hunters fighting gladiators.
Naumachia, meaning naval battle in Latin, was also staged in amphitheaters.

Spartacus and His Uprisings

The Spartacus rebellion began in 73 BCE, during the Late Republic.
Spartacus, a Thracian, was previously part of Roman auxiliary troops before becoming a gladiator.
His rebellion sparked a temporary end to the slave wars after his defeat.
Historical sources for Spartacus include Appian and Plutarch.

Notable Roman Emperors and Events

Augustus ruled from 31 BC to 14 AD and significantly expanded the Roman Empire.
Key accomplishments of Augustus included increasing provinces and improving taxation systems.
The Battle of Actium was a decisive conflict in 31 BC between Marcus Antony and Octavian, resulting in Octavian's victory.
Nero, known for his tyrannical rule, committed multiple brutal acts and famously faced the Great Fire of Rome.

Gladiatorial Life and Training

Gladiator life was arduous, but not equivalent to imprisonment; many could live freely and share barracks with partners.
The Lanista owned and trained gladiators, acting as their facilitator.
The rudis was a wooden sword symbolizing a gladiator's freedom at the end of their career.
Decimation was a Roman military discipline where one in ten men was executed.

Cultural and Architectural Developments

The Lex Tullia prohibited public figures from sponsoring gladiatorial games in the election years before they took office.
Amphitheaters served various entertainment functions, such as chariot races and executions.
The velarium was a canvas awning used for audience protection from the elements.

Noteworthy Amphitheaters and Locations

The second-largest amphitheater is located in Capua, where Spartacus trained.
The Siracusa amphitheater in Sicily combines Greek and Roman architectural styles.
Countries with the highest distribution of amphitheaters include Italy, Africa, Britain, and Spain.

Other Historical Notes

Damnatio memoriae was a decree to erase the public memory of figures condemned by the Senate.
Trajan (98-117 AD) expanded the Rome Empire to its greatest extent, originating from Spain.
Hadrian is known for Hadrian's Wall and significant architectural projects, such as the rebuilt Pantheon.

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