Gladiators: Violence and Spectacle in Ancient Rome
Language: English
Published by Pearson Education (Longman), Harlow, 2008
- First Edition
- Hardcover
- Used
Seller: Edinburgh Books, Edinburgh, United KingdomEdinburgh Books
AbeBooks seller since September 18, 2006
Condition: Used - Very good
£ 30.00
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
2008. First Edition. x, 398pp.Black and white images. "Just as modern sports exemplify the world view of those who play and watch them, so a study of the Roman gladiatorial contest can help us to understand the values and attitudes of a society which has had enormous influence on the development of western civilisation. In this detailed investigation of every aspect of the games, from the selection, training and maintenance of the gladiators to the role of sponsors and the spectacular staging of the later games, Roger Dunkle shows how as the games expanded to include staged animal hunts and the executions of convicted criminals and prisoners of war they became a powerful propaganda tool for the Roman Empire. As well as entertainment, the crowd received a powerful message about the nature of Roman power: the wars which had won her an empire, the far-flung territories from which exotic beasts for the hunts were brought, and the inevitability of Roman justice for all who dared to challenge her authority. A final chapter on gladiators in film demonstrates that the games, despite occasional distortions by film-makers, have retained their power to fascinated and entertain." Some damage to bottom edge of the upper board, and small tear in bottom right corner of the front of the dust jacket. Dust jacket and book are in otherwise excellent condition, and all contents are tight and clean with no inscription. Dust jacket is wrapped in a removable protective plastic cover.…
Seller Inventory # AncientRome169
- Title
- Gladiators: Violence and Spectacle in Ancient Rome
- Author
- Dunkle, Roger
- Publisher
- Pearson Education (Longman), Harlow
- Publication year
- 2008
- Condition
- Very Good
- Dust jacket
- Very Good
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 1405807393
- ISBN 13
- 9781405807395
- Edition
- First Edition
- Seller catalogs
- Ancient History/Classical
The games comprised gladiatorial fights, staged animal hunts (venationes) and the executions of convicted criminals and prisoners of war. Besides entertaining the crowd, the games delivered a powerful message of Roman power: as a reminder of the wars in which Rome had acquired its empire, the distant regions of its far-flung empire (from where they had obtained wild beasts for the venatio), and the inevitability of Roman justice for criminals and those foreigners who had dared to challenge the empire's authority. Though we might see these games as bloodthirsty, cruel and reprehensible condemning any alien culture out of hand for a sport that offends our sensibilities smacks of cultural chauvinism. Instead one should judge an ancient sport by the standards of its contemporary cultural context. This book offers a fascinating, and fair historical appraisal of gladiatorial combat, which will bring the games alive to the reader and help them see them through the eyes of the ancient Romans.
It will answer questions about gladiatorial combat such as: What were its origins? Why did it disappear? Who were gladiators? How did they become gladiators? What was there training like? How did the Romans view gladiators? How were gladiator shows produced and advertised? What were the different styles of gladiatorial fighting? Did gladiator matches have referees? Did every match end in the death of at least one gladiator? Were gladiator games mere entertainment or did they play a larger role in Roman society? What was their political significance?
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
Before his retirement, Roger Dunkle was Professor of Classics at Brooklyn College, City University New York. His previous publications include 'Classical Origins of Western Culture' (Brooklyn University Press).
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Edinburgh Books
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
AbeBooks seller since September 18, 2006
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