CLA233H1 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Pater Familias, Potestas, Roman Citizenship
Document Summary
Story is written by seneca the younger (poet, philosopher, tutor to nero, he adapted traditional roman morality by reinterpreting it in a greek context). This story is an allusion to cato the younger who killed himself rather than ask the emperor for pardon after a failed rebellion against the dictatorship (symbol of roman commitment and aristocratic freedom) The german in the story was probably a prisoner of war (because he was in the gladiator arena). Gladiators usually didn"t have their gladius (sword), for amusement they would be given just enough weapons to make their death not so quick. Since they were by definition criminals no one really cared that they died so grimly. The humiliation as more of the punishment (lots of romans finding amusement at his death) Romans werenot very inhibited by their body like most western societies, accustomed to public nudity in baths or gymnasium but one thing they were anxious about was bodily excrement.
