CLA233H1 Lecture Notes - Imperial Cult, Praetor, Imperium
Document Summary
Lecture #7 triumphs, spectacles, and other distractions. Focusing especially on the non-elite romans, despite a tendency to look back with more civilized eyes". Entertainment was a form of mass media would have been seen by a lot of people at the same time. Public games offered by the state are called ludi. In contrast, games put on by private individuals (usually gladiatorial contests) as called munera (meaning gifts ) Paid for by the spoils of war. Though originally religious, they became more and more prominent until becoming the main focus: vestigial religious functions retained. Originally ludi were managed by priests, then by consuls, then by aediles, and finally by the emperors. Two types of ludi originally: ludi circenses chariot races, ludi scaenici theatrical performances. Holding a munera was a way for magistrates to increase cliental/political favour: but could consequently increase debt.
