Roman Culture and Society

Roman Arts and Literature

The Romans spread Greco-Roman arts and culture throughout the

empire

Roman ArtsDeveloped a taste for Greek statues

SculptureSculptures produced more realistic works

PaintingsPainters painted portraits and

landscapes on walls of villas

ArchitectureConcrete helped to construct huge

buildings that the Greeks could not create

Remarkable engineersRoads, bridges, and aqueductsBuilt 50,000 miles of roads throughout the

empireIn Rome, a dozen aqueducts kept a population of

one million supplied with water

ArchitectureExcelled in architecture

Used curved formsArch, vault and dome

Slavery and Slave Revolts No people in the ancient world had more

slaves or depended on slaved more than the Romans Large numbers of captured soldiers in war

became slaves Used as: household workers, cooks,

valets, waiters, cleaners, gardeners, farm laborers

Many slave holders were afraid of their slaves b/c they treated them so awful

Slavery and Slave RevoltsIf a slave killed his master,

the slave would be executed and all other slaves would be killed too

Most famous slave revolt was led by the gladiator SpartacusIn 73 B.C. he led 70,000 slavesDefeated several armies6,000 of his followers were crucified

or nailed to a cross

Spartacus in Hollywood

Aqueducts and Roman RoadsSuperb builders Network of 50,000

miles of roadsRome- a dozen

aqueducts kept 1 million people supplied with water

Life in Ancient Rome

City life in Ancient Rome had great problems similar to life today

FamilyThe heart of

Roman society was the family

Paterfamilias- the dominant maleIncluded wife, sons

and their wives, unmarried daughters, and slaves

EducationRaised their children at

homeUpper-class children:

expected to learn and read

Father was chief figure in providing educationDecided whether to teach

them, hire a teacher, or send to school

Teachers were often Greek slaves

AdulthoodChildhood ended for:

Boys- 16Girls- 12-14Ceremony for boys- trade in

purple togaGirls ceremony- marriage

Women must have male guardiansPaterfamilias responsibilityWhen he dies, sons or nearest

relative takes over

MarriageGirls could get married

as young as 12Boys usually 16-18Meant for life3rd century A.D.-

introduce divorce Easy to obtain Husband or wife could ask

for itFathers arranged

marriages for their daughters

WomenMore independence and

freedomRight to own, inherit and

sell propertyNot segregated from

men in the homesCould attend races,

theater, amphitheater but sit in separate sections

Accompanied by maidsCould not participate in

politics

Living Conditions in Rome

Living Conditions in RomeCenter of the empire was Rome, one

million people at the time of AugustusBoasted public buildings like no other in the

world, but also was over crowded and noisyHard to sleep at night

Dangerous- could be robbedWagon traffic horribleSoaked by fiflth trhown out of

windows

Where they livedThe rich lived in comfortable

villas The poor lived in apartment

blocks called insulaeFire an extreme hazard

Hard to put outFamous one in A.D. 64

High rent- lived in one roomNo AC or central heating= very

uncomfortable

Living Conditions in RomeEmperors proved food for the poorLarge scale entertainment was provided

for the people of Rome1. Horse and chariot races in Circus

Maximus2. Dramatic performances were held in

theaters3. Gladiator shows

A Gladiator’s LifeTypes of Gladiators

Circus Maximus and The Colosseum

The Roman Gladiators

The beginnings of Violent games

A Gladiator’s LifeAs Rome expands it

comes into conflict with other cultures

Majority of those that become gladiators are because of conquest

The conquered were then escorted back to Rome where they would be sold in slave markets

A Gladiator’s LifeSent to a ludus

gladiatorious to be trained

Training was under the supervision of a lanista or “the butcher”

Abuse was common place and was both physical and psychological (whipping most common)

Day consisted of lifting weights and learning the art of death

A Gladiator’s LifeCommon myth is that

gladiators were only slaves

Majority were but they were criminals, debtors and those condemned to death

Trained according to one’s physical attributes or skills

Training

At the Coliseum At the coliseum

gladiators fought first

Concerned about survival and what lanista will do if you do not perform well

After condemned are killed, animals hunted and criminal fights

Gladiators fight again in late day but it is to the death now

Death of GladiatorsDefeated gladiators could

appeal for mercy but it was at the whim of the crowd

Death did not always come at the hands of one’s opponent

Men dressed as Roman gods would kill the loser in a variety of ways to add to the sensationalism of the event

Thumbs down meant to spare the gladiator

A thumb up meant to kill him

Colosseum Built by Emperor

Vespasian and Titus 70-80 A.D.

Seated 45,000, had two large restroom areas, covered area, numbered seating based on class, and had supporting facilities nearby

Longest games were 123 days long

ColosseumExotic animals

hunts, gladiatorial combat, executions, brutal plays, battle recreations and possibly naval battles with alligators entertained the crowds

Bull Fight vs. Roman Warriors

Death of a Gladiator

Material Evidence

Thraex

Gladiatorial Scenes in Art

Zliten Mosaic

Originally in a Roman seaside villaNow in Archaeological MusuemTripoli, Tunisia

Fragment of a Relief Showing Gladiators in the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art Roman, 1st-3rd century ADRecorded ca. 1880 in the Vigna Aquari in Rome.Accession # 57.11.

Gladiator cup, ca. 50–80 A.D.; Neronian–Early FlavianicRoman; Found at Montagnole, southern France

Now in New York Metropolitan Museum of ArtGlass; H. 2 7/8 in. (7.3 cm), Diam. 3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm)Gift of Henry G. Marquand, 1881 (81.10.245)

Ancient Mosaic now in Bourghese Gallery, Rome

Murder and non-Gladiator games

Gladiatorial Tombstones

Christians vs. Gladiators