Classical Studies 2300 Lecture 2: Finals Lecture-2

• School: Western University
• Department: Classical Studies
• Course: Classical Studies 2300
• Professor: David Lamari

Document Summary

Lecture 2 sports and recreation in the ancient world. 1st known permanent amphitheater = pompeii 70 bc; 1st at rome 29 bc. Roman custom to stage gladiators in roman forum (open area in downtown rome: up until they built permanent amphitheatre, animal hunts had yet to have been combined (still in the circus) Semi-permanent (wooden) amphitheaters used: torn down after a month or two, amphitheater gimmicks, amphitheaters with competitors and wooden bleachers all around. Bigger, better and by far the largest in the roman empire. Characteristics: 13 years to build dedication and events while still unfinished in ad 79 (decorations added later) Wasn"t until 100s years later that it got the name coliseum: built on the private lake of the previous emperor, nero. Nero had the idea of digging a huge pit so that he could have his own private lake the next emperor filled the pit to create a huge foundation to create largest amphitheater in the world.