Classical Studies 2300 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Livius Andronicus, Theatre Of Ancient Rome, Latin

• School: Western University
• Department: Classical Studies
• Course: Classical Studies 2300
• Professor: All

Document Summary

Classics lecture 1 reading: roman theater (gladiators and cesars chapter 5) Images of roman public entertainment that manifest in our minds are gladiatorial combat and chariot racing: staged plays played an almost equally important part (particularly tragedy and comedy) Intellectual humor that was taken from greece: roman theatre played the largest influence on european culture (even more that gladiatorial combat and chariot racing) Set a direct example for early modern period drama. Romans were only people in a position to adapt greek literature into their own language: greek was the international cultural language. Ezekiel (greatest jew leader) who wrote about moses wrote in greek. When the tragedy called romulus was written, he wrote it in latin: even the greek gods that were involved in the play spoke latin. Roman theatre was for everyone, common people (women, slaves, freedmen) sat behind the knights and senators: they come to see and be seen themselves an insult to the lower people.