What is entertainment? According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary entertainment is “amusement or diversion provided especially by performers; something diverting or engaging”. Living in a technological era, we have access to the more technology than ever before. There are flat screen television, magazines, internet, and movies screaming to be read and watched. What was the form of entertainment in societies back thousands of years ago when these commodities were nonexistent? Comparing the major source of pleasure and enjoyment between two major civilizations only separated by a couple hundred years, are not that different, but at the same time are completely different. Societies are constantly changing, that cannot be denied, however entertainment …show more content…
The Romans decided to use the lust for blood, while the Greeks met the needs for entertainment with athletic competition. In Greece during the Olympics it was considered a time of peace. The Olympics time of peace mainly suspended war, and the carrying out of death penalties. The “Olympic Truce” as it was called was put in place to allow spectators and athletes to travel to the Olympic games safely. Whereas the Olympics were a time and place of peace the gladiator battles in Ancient Rome were among the most violent forms of entertainment in history. The gladiators represented the warrior culture of the Romans and they were used to keep that air of violence alive, even in a time of peace. In the Roman amphitheaters we see crumbling before our eyes today, use to hold hundreds and even thousands of people, and were the setting to public executions (often by animal), animals were killed, and most famously known today battles between gladiators. The bloodshed entertained the Romans and clearly shows that Ancient Rome was a culture that celebrated brutality. By comparing these differences in Greek and Roman culture it is evident that the Greeks were a more peaceful people then the …show more content…
To begin with both the gladiators and olympians inspired writers and pioneer historians to record the events with their writing. Also, the need for stadiums to be venues for the events resulted in advances in sculpture, architecture and mathematics. The Greek Olympics were a celebration of religion, wealth, and athletic competition. The Roman Gladiator events were a gathering organized by the extremely wealthy (often Emperors) to entertain civilians with bloodshed and violence. Similarly, the wealthy used the events to flaunt their money. The Greeks reveled in athletic competition as the Romans were enthused by violence. Successful athletes were considered favored by the Greek god Zeus and like todays modern athletes they were treated as absolute heroes in their hometowns. Gladiators were often slaves, but were treated as a higher class that slaves (as much as being forced to fight to the death warranted). While the Greeks celebrated athletes for being great in athletic competition, the Romans celebrated gladiators who were relentless in battle. The worship of athletes and gladiators show that both societies put an emphasis on competition just as is very true today, albeit each had a very poles-apart degree of violence. The best competitors in both the athletic competitions and the gladiators would receive wealth and
Civic implications were also apparent in ancient Greek athletics. The ancient world was one of constant conflict and political turmoil, and it was necessary for each city-state to possess a strong military in order to preserve their autonomy.
The gladiators were not born athletes who had a mission in life to become warriors, most of them were normal men living a normal life on a farm located within the fringes of the Roman Empire, such as Moesia. These men had families and friend within their village and usually farmed to survive. They had little to no contact with people outside of their town and kept to themselves. This made them easy targets for the Roman armies to attack which was extremely common. As the Romans began their attack the men of a village usually sent their women and children off while they stayed to fight. Of course they stood no chance and were forced to surrender to be taken as Roman slaves. They would be forced to take the trip to Italy which usually took over fifty days. Immediately after reaching Italy the newfound slaves were taken to an auction where they would be sold off to the highest bidder. The men bidding on the slaves could be using them for various t...
In Ancient Greece they formed the Greek Olympics in the year 776 B.C in which participants participate to honor the gods and demonstrate their physical abilities. What was amazing was that those who participated were only participating in honor and not prizes. Something that they would win was the olive wreath which was basically winning the honor and recognition of the people and the gods. Comparing to the ancient time and now is that there are now commercialized, endorsements, and sponsorships for athletes to represent companies in the Olympics. However, the Olympics still hold true to the idea that it is still a place for participants compete with the best in the world for the honor (gold,silver, and bronze medal). Also, if we look at the sculpture of the Diskobolos made by Myron of Eleutherae it represented the general athlete in motion and would symbolize the ancient times athlete. But something that is different about now and the Greek ...
Question : Who were the spectators at Roman games? Discuss the relationship between them and the performers they watched.
In conclusion, life in ancient Rome was unpleasant for gladiators, who had no rights and were forced to fight to entertain for the rich society. The sources show the importance of gladiators in ancient Roman times, to the rich society and others. Therefore, it can be led to that others that were not gladiators loved the fights as much they loved themselves and their own
When the Romans went to the gladiator fights, they wanted to watch a very exciting and entertaining contest. So, the Romans purposefully set up the gladiator fights to be unfair by making the matchups unbalanced. The gladiator’s living conditions affected the fight. Yet, with all the morals and myths that the Roman government promoted as what was expected of the roman citizens, the brutal battles that were in the coliseum wouldn’t be tolerated, but they were. The unpredictable outcome of these matches were what made these so entertaining.
seating and the easiest access to the Colosseum. Even though many people think that the
The Cambridge Illustrated History of Ancient Greece explains a variety of ways in which the Greeks were influenced by their religion. The Greeks expressed their respect for their gods through sacred acts, primarily festivals and rituals. The festivals were held to honor certain deities such as the Olympic Games, an event held for athletes meant to honor
Alan Baker states in his book The Gladiator – The Secret History of Rome’s Warrior Slaves that, “attendance at the amphitheater was an essential part of being a Roman, a member of a powerful warrior state” (Baker 2000, 39). It is said that the Romans were known for their honor and glory as a reflection of the society they lived in. This may perhaps explain why the gladiator games were popular to the citizens, because the Romans enjoyed observing these characteristics throughout the battles. Most of the time the contestants were slaves, these individuals were bought and traded at the coliseum with the intentions of battling in these games until their death.
Gladiatorial combat originated as a religious event to honor the dead, victory of an important battle, a sacrifice to the gods, or to honor the death of someone in a high standing position. The first Roman gladiatorial games were held in 246 BCE to honor Marcus and Decimus Brutus. ("Life of a Gladiator") These games started an era of gladiatorial events that would last for nearly a century to come. Much like today’s athletes, gladiators compete with one another to decide a victor and is a form of entertainment for people spectating.
The Ancient Greek Olympics were not only sporting events, it was a celebration to honor the great and powerful Zeus. The Ancient Olympics were held every four years at the famous Olympia, a district of Elis, here all free Greek men were allowed to compete. The first record of the Olympic Games was held in 776 B.C. The main sports were the Pentathlon, the Equestrian Events, Pankration, and Boxing.
the family unit underwent drastic change between 1650 to 1800. Where people were discouraged to marry early, needing permission from one such as the Lord to even marry. Which began the “they sneak off to Gretta Green”. Athough many would wait to start a family until they could afford a home before. Its believed that many parents did not form attachments to children due to the unbelievable infant mortality rate, even for those of wealthier households. The young people entered this era having a choice, (which their mothers and fathers never had a choice) to who they married not staying with the choice of their families. Sex before marriage led many young women to have babies to men who stepped back after she was pregnant, leaving her with few
140 to 150 metres at its widest point. The fact that it was built in a
The entertainment that people use in the world has a very large variety. People go from doing outdoor activities to watching television. Entertainment soon impacted its way of use through technology such as video games and computers. The most common thing people love to do is watch movies. Movies have been out for a very long time.
Ancient Olympics The ancient Olympics had some differences from the modern Games. There were fewer events, and only free men who spoke Greek could compete, instead of athletes from any country. Women where not allowed to even watch the games on penalty of death let alone play in them.. Also, the games were always held at Olympia in Greece instead of being moved around to different sites every time. But also they had some similarities to our modern Olympics, winning athletes were heroes who put their home towns on the map, and became financially sound for life. The conflict between the Olympic's ideals of sportsmanship and unity and the commercialism and political acts which accompany the Games where also present in ancient times. "Sotades at the ninety-ninth Festival was victorious in the long race and proclaimed a Cretan, as in fact he was. But at the next Festival he made himself an Ephesian, being bribed to do so by the Ephesian people. For this act he was banished by the Cretans."