Most drivers were slaves, but there was also some professionals among them. And, quite naturally, there was a huge amount of betting surrounding the races. They were quite literally comparable to modern day sports stars. He spent hours in their stables, amongst the horses and charioteers, he even ate there. There was four different parties (factiones) to support the red (russata), the green (prasina), the white (albata) and the blue (veneta).Įmperor Caligula was a fanatical supporter of the green party. Though passions could often boil over, leading to violent clashes between opposing supporters. Roman passions ran high when it came to chariot racing and most supported one of the teams and its colours, – white, green, red or blue. Ludi circenses, the circus games, took place in the marvellous circuses, and amphitheatres and were breathtakingly spectacular, though also gruesome events. The floralia for instance saw the staging of plays, some of which were of a sexual nature, which can be explained by the fact that the goddess Flora was understood to have very loose morals. Perhaps as they were seen as more worthy, less populist, the theatrical performances were only staged for the most important festivals of the year. The theatre plays were merely seen as an accompaniment to the ludi circences, although it needs to be said, that many Romans indeed ardent theatre-goers. Within minutes his audience had disappeared. Terence’s comedy The mother in law was being staged and all was going well, when suddenly someone in the audience was heard saying that the the gladiatorial fights were about to begin. The playwright Terence (185-159 BC) tells of a festival held in honour of the deceased Lucius Aemilius Paulus in 160 BC. This is also shown in the sheer scale of the structures built to house the audiences. Far fewer festivals saw theatre plays than circus games.įor the spectacular events in the circus drew far greater crowds. The ludi scaenici, the theatrical performances, were hopelessly overwhelmed by the ludi circenses, the circus games. Circus Disasters The theatrical Festivals (ludi scaenici)
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