Sapir Ohayon
4290227
Classics 80B
Hahn
Assignment 7:
Leisure/Entertainment in
Rome
As Rome had developed into
a very religious state, the government and people of Rome believed in
celebrating their love of the Gods as well as giving thanks to them
for every triumph, war they overcame and military victories. Marcus
Julius Antonius absolutely loved when there were festivals in the
city center, near the Roman Forum, because it called for a time of
celebration, when the city could come together and see the excitement
before their very eyes. In the Roman tradition, a festival is
defined as a day of religious celebration, marked by ritual acts and
holiday. These ritual acts often included religious ritual, prayer,
sacrifice and a meal.
Along with festivals, were
the Roman games, also known as “Ludi” – these consisted of
entertainment,
originally chariot races, that had ancient origins of religious
nature and including religious rituals, associated with festivals,
perhaps to entertain the Gods and Goddesses. Marcus Julius Antonius'
favorite of these games was the Circus Maximus (Biggest Circus),
which had started in the 6th
century BCE. Marcus Julius favored this game because it was a large
circus procession, with the magistrate leading in the front, boys on
horseback, and trumpeters playing music alongside.
The
procession was spectacular and beautiful to the naked eye. The
parade also included competitors, armed dancers, musicians, satyrs,
silens, incense bearers, and vessel bearers. This specific game was
particularly significant to Marcus Julius, however, because of the
political dimension that the Circus Maximus held. Although there
were approximately 59 days of games per year at that point in time,
and the holidays were increasing, this still triumphed as his
favorite. He had no one else to thank, besides the pontiffs, who had
created the events that would take place on the Roman calendar, for
the great fun he always had during Circus Maximus.
