How violant was Roman entertainment compared with today?
I have a project on Ancient Rome sport and entertainment, and i need help with this question. Got any ideas?
probably considerably worse.
the government would host what is called “bread and circuses” for the people in order to satisfy them (i.e. the people) so that they wouldn’t constantly bother the Senate with complaints and whatnot.
well, these “bread and circus” affairs consisted of food and entertainment. the government provided them with food, and the entertainment half was extremely gory and horrible.
people would gather in the Colosseum and watch two gladiators fight each other until they were within a centimeter of their lives. the audience would cheer and grin and have a brilliant time while watching this torture go on. at the end, when both were about ready to literally fall to the ground and die, they would both turn to the audience and one would have his sword ready.
The current emperor would also be at these games, and he would either give a “thumbs up” or a “thumbs down” signal. Thumbs up meant for the winning gladiator (the one holding the sword) to spare the guy’s life. Thumbs down mean to ram the sword into the other’s gut.
Then, the crowds would cheer like people do today at football games when their favorite team wins.
it was rather distasteful. then again, one has to look at it through the proper context; it is distasteful by today’s standards, but back then….. I suppose it was as normal as watching a football match.
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