Product Details
The Roman Games: Historical Sources in Translation (Blackwell Sourcebooks in Ancient History)

The Roman Games: Historical Sources in Translation (Blackwell Sourcebooks in Ancient History)
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Product Description

This sourcebook presents a wealth of material relating to every aspect of Roman spectacles, especially gladiatorial combat and chariot racing.

  • Draws on the words of eye–witnesses and participants, as well as depictions of the games in mosaics and other works of art.
  • Offers snapshots of “a day at the games” and “the life of a gladiator”.
  • Includes numerous illustrations.
  • Covers chariot–races, water pageants, naval battles and wild animal fights, as well as gladiatorial combat.
  • Combines political, social, religious and archaeological perspectives.
  • Facilitates an in–depth understanding of this important feature of ancient life.

    • Product Details

    • Amazon Sales Rank: #281960 in Books
    • Published on: 2005-12-13
    • Original language: English
    • Number of items: 1
    • Binding: Paperback
    • 272 pages

    Editorial Reviews

    Review
    “A lively and wide–ranging collection of sources on Roman public spectacle. Alison Futrell has made an excellent selection and she introduces and links the extracts with very lucid and helpful commentary. This book will be enormously beneficial for students and helpful to scholars too.”
    Jonathan Edmondson, York University, Toronto


    “This excellent book promises to be an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the violent entertainments of the Roman arena. Futrell’s collection of sources enables readers to see the broader context of the games, offering a first rate collection of material for life outside the amphitheater, as well as for events that took place within it.”
    David Potter, University of Michigan

    "Futrell′s main purpose is to provide interesting, unusual material, and this she does ... Her brief explanatory notes are insightful, learned and intended to provoke further research. Those interested in ancient Rome will welcome this fine sourcebook ... Highly recommended."
    Choice

    "This very useful book provides a wide–ranging collection of sources of different types on this ever–popular branch of Roman civilisation, offering valuable insights into aspects of Roman public entertainment. . . a worthwhile purchase for the school library."
    Journal of Classics Teaching

    From the Back Cover
    This sourcebook presents a wealth of material that casts light on the rich tradition of Roman spectacle, with special focus on gladiatorial combat and chariot racing. Drawing on literary descriptions, inscriptions, reliefs, mosaics, and archaeological features, The Roman Games offers a range of political, social, and religious perspectives.


    Featuring the accounts of eyewitnesses and participants, the book reconstructs the experience of “a day at the games” and the expectations of “the life of a gladiator.”


    The editor provides historical framework and analytical commentary for each of the entries, as well as a glossary of technical terms and a timeline to give additional context for students and general readers.

    About the Author
    Alison Futrell is Associate Professor of Roman History at the University of Arizona in Tucson and author of Blood in the Arena: The Spectacle of Roman Power (1997). Her current research interests are in representations of gender and power, both in the ancient past and in modern popular culture. Her recent projects include the cultural history of Spartacus and a monograph on Barbarian Queens.