In earlier times, before most cities had permanent racetracks, wild animals were sometimes brought into the circus and fought each other to the death. Other times, humans stalked them in a public hunt. Chariot races and animal hunts were often a part of a larger event known as the games. The games also sometimes had animals that performed tricks for the crowds. The celebrations associated with games could last for a week. Admission to the games was free, with the Senate and public officials picking up the expense.
Over time the Romans built amphitheaters, such as the Colosseum, especially for the games. These arenas featured animal hunts and
Gladiatorial combat, which were too dangerous for the circus or other public spaces because the spectators were too close to the field. In the amphitheaters, the fans sat high above the fighting area. The arenas also had special underground cells to hold the animals. Sand in the middle of the arena helped soak up the blood shed by both animals and humans.
Entertainment in the Round
The Roman word circus came from the Greek word kirkos, meaning "ring." Like the Roman racetrack, the English word circus describes a round arena—in our case, where acrobats, clowns, animals, and other acts are performed. The Roman root of the word circus also appears in other English words, such as circle and circumference (the outer edge of a circle). And to circumnavigate is to travel around the world in a circle.
The first gladiatorial games were private events hosted by families to honor their dead. During the empire, the games became lavish public events. The gladiators were usually convicted criminals, slaves, or prisoners of war. A few gladiators volunteered to take part in the games. The gladiators went to special schools to learn how to fight with specific weapons. These included a three-forked spear called a trident and a net, which a gladiator used to ensnare his opponent.
As with the charioteers, fans rooted for particular gladiators, and sometimes threw money to the victors. Some slaves earned enough money this way to buy their freedom. The fights were not always to the death. Some matches ended in draws, and some losers survived the beating they took in the arena. The men who ran the games did not want each match to end in death because they could not afford to lose half their fighters in each day’s combat, since they spent their own money to train the gladiators.
The losers in some gladiatorial combats appealed to the crowd for mercy. By putting their thumbs up or down, the fans indicated if the fighters should live or die. The emperor, who made the final decision, usually accepted the crowd’s wishes. If the crowd put their thumbs down, the loser was immediately executed. Today, a thumbs-up sign still signals approval, while thumbs down indicates displeasure.
Another feature of the games was mock sea battles, first staged by Julius Caesar. At one time, historians thought the Romans somehow flooded the Colosseum and held the battles there, but they actually took place on artificial lakes in the city.
Although aspects of the games seem brutal and cruel today, most Romans accepted them as a valid form of entertainment. Violence went on in the society all the time: Owners beat slaves, fathers and teachers hit children, citizens without money were beaten if they committed certain crimes. In addition, Rome honored the military and the idea of using war to achieve wealth and power was completely accepted. In that climate, writes historian Jo-Ann Shelton, “People who themselves felt powerless and brutalized found some satisfaction in watching the infliction of pain on others.” Still, some educated Romans did not approve of the games. Cicero, after attending an event where 600 lions were killed, wrote in a letter to a friend (also quoted in Shelton), “But what pleasure can a civilized man find when either a helpless human being is mangled by a very strong animal, or a magnificent animal is stabbed again and again with a hunting spear?”
Comedy Tonight
This wall painting from Pompeii shows three actors in a comedy. The man on the left is wearing a mask that indicates he is a slave.
World History
