DOCSLIB.ORG

Spectatorship and Fandom of the Roman Chariot Races

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Spectatorship and Fandom of the Roman Chariot Races SPECTATORSHIP AND FANDOM OF THE ROMAN CHARIOT RACES SPECTATORSHIP AND FANDOM OF THE ROMAN CHARIOT RACES By AMANDA M. M. DEVITT, B.HUM., M.A. A Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy McMaster University © Copyright by Amanda M. M. Devitt, December 2019 McMaster University DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (2019) Hamilton, Ontario (Classics) TITLE: Spectatorship and Fandom of the Roman Chariot Races AUTHOR: Amanda M. M. Devitt, B.HUM. (Carleton University), M.A. (Newcastle University), M.A. (McMaster University) SUPERVISOR: Dr. Michele George NUMBER OF PAGES: (ix) (415) ii ABSTRACT This dissertation is concerned with the spectators of the Roman chariot races throughout the empire. It addresses how the sport was experienced and engaged with in the Roman context, with consideration of the everyday lives of circus fans, social networks and consumer patterns. By making use of a variety of sources, including the structural remains of circuses, material culture, epigraphic evidence, and both literary and historical writings, it is possible to gain a picture of a vibrant community of circus fans that as a group were able to make an impact on the sport as well as on Roman society and culture more broadly. Circus spectators were confronted with an array of stimuli from the moment of their arrival at the venue - from the sights to the sounds and even the feel of the seats - all of which added to their shared experience. Audience members engaged not only with the sport but also with one another, finding common ground in their collective interest in the races. Aside from the casual spectator, many audience members identified themselves to be within a community of fans with common views and beliefs concerning the popular spectacle. Fans of the races passionately followed the sport and its competitors, and offered their support when in attendance at the circus and in their actions outside of the venue. An examination of the phenomena of Roman sport spectators further reveals a rich sub-culture of racing fans that offered an active social experience at the circus and various methods of engagement with the sport at the venue and beyond. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Foremost, I must express my sincere appreciation to my supervisor, Dr. Michele George, whose expertise and feedback have been instrumental throughout this process. I humbly extend my thanks to the respected members of my committee, Dr. Martin Beckmann and Dr. Evan Haley, and to my external reader Dr. Michael Carter from Brock University, all of whom have provided invaluable advice and contributed to the successful completion of this dissertation. The errors that remain are entirely my own. I would not have been able to complete this dissertation without the financial support given to me by McMaster University and by the Department of Classics. This dissertation was also written with the support of a J. B. McArthur Ontario Graduate Scholarship. I do not believe that I will ever be able to fully express how grateful I am to my parents, Cheryl and Girvin Devitt, whose love and encouragement has seen me through. I wish to thank them both for listening without complaint to rambling monologues about my studies, for reading drafts no matter their personal levels of interest, and for providing me with unwavering moral and emotional support. Without you both this dissertation would not have been possible. Per ardua ad astra, indeed. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ABBREVIATIONS vii LIST OF FIGURES viii INTRODUCTION 1 CHAPTER 1: THE ROMAN CIRCUS 13 1. 1. INTRODUCTION 13 1. 2. ORIGINS OF THE RACES 15 1. 3. DEVELOPMENT OF THE ROMAN RACES 23 1. 4. DEVELOPMENT OF THE CIRCUS MAXIMUS 30 1. 5. OTHER RACING VENUES 42 A. AT ROME B. BEYOND ROME 1. 6. ELITE ROMAN VIEWS OF SPECTACLE AND THE CIRCUS 53 A. SPECTACLE B. THE CIRCUS 1. 7. THE EMPEROR AT THE CIRCUS 85 CHAPTER 2: A DAY AT THE RACES 95 2. 1. INTRODUCTION 95 2. 2. ARRIVALS 99 2. 3. ACCESSING SEATS 104 2. 4. SEATING 111 2. 5. THE POMPA CIRCENSIS 122 2. 6. BETTING ON THE RACES 131 2. 7. EXPERIENCE IN THE STANDS 141 2. 8. SOUNDS OF THE CIRCUS 153 CHAPTER 3: SPECTATORS AND FANS 158 3. 1. INTRODUCTION 158 3. 2. CHILDREN AND THE RACES 160 3. 3. FACTIONS 170 3. 4. CHARIOTEERS 179 3. 5. STARS OF THE RACES 183 3. 6. THE POPULAR IMAGE OF THE RACES 189 3. 7. THE INFAMIA OF CHARIOTEERS 204 3. 8. HORSES 209 3. 9. FAN SUPPORT 216 v 3. 10. THE ‘HOME ADVANTAGE’ AND HOMETOWN HEROES 220 3. 11. THE EMPEROR AS A RACING FAN 228 CHAPTER 4: THE PSYCHOLOGY OF A CIRCUS FAN: A MODERN SPORT PSYCHOLOGY APPROACH 238 4. 1. INTRODUCTION 238 4. 2. SPORTS SPECTATOR MOTIVATIONS 240 4. 3. SPORTS FAN MOTIVATIONS 247 4. 4. THE PRIMARY MOTIVATIONS OF CIRCUS FANS 263 4. 5. THE ‘FANDOM-BOUND’ IDENTITY 269 CHAPTER 5: SPECTATOR PARTICIPATION & THE USE OF CIRCUS DEFIXIONES 294 5. 1. INTRODUCTION 294 5. 2. FANDOM TO FANATICISM 296 5. 3. EXPRESSIVE COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOUR 302 5. 4. THE INFLUENCE OF FANS 308 5. 5. CIRCUS DEFIXIONES 313 A. LOCATIONS B. INVOCATIONS C. CURSE REQUESTS D. THE TARGETS E. THE CREATION OF CURSES CONCLUSION 355 BIBLIOGRAPHY 362 APPENDIX: COLLECTION OF CIRCUS DEFIXIONES 390 vi ABBREVIATIONS N.B. Throughout the dissertation, a note (footnote or endnote) has been abbreviated: “n.”, and a catalogue number has been abbreviated: “no.”. Circus defixiones which can be found in the Appendix (Collection of Circus Defixiones) at the end of the dissertation have been abbreviated: “App. No.”. AE L'Année Épigraphique, pub. in Revue ArChéologique and separately (1888– ) BE Bulletin épigraphique, pub. in Revue des études grecques. CIL Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum (1863– ) Graf. Pal. Väänänen, V., Solin, H., Itkonen-Kaila, M. Graffiti Palatino (1968) IG InsCriptiones GraeCae (1873– ) PGM Preisendanz, K. Papyri GraeCae MagiCae, 2 vols. (2nd ed. 1973-4) P. Oxy. Oxyrhynchus Papyri (1898– ) ILS Dessau, H. InsCriptiones Latinae SeleCtae (1892-1916) SEG Supplementum Epigraphicum Graecum (1923– ) vii LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1 Plan of stairway type 1, as seen at Lepcis Magna 104 Figure 2 Plan of stairway type 2, as seen at Lepcis Magna 105 Figure 3 Plans of series of rooms in remains of Circus Maximus 106 Figure 4 Analysis of circulation system at Circus Maximus 109 Figure 5 Evaluation of visual conditions in seating of Circus Maximus 116 Figure 6 Estimated venue seating capacity and measurements 146 Figure 7 Graffito of victorious charioteer 187 Figure 8 Graffito of two chariot teams and victor 187 Figure 9 Graffito of chariot team and presentation of palm 187 Figure 10 Silin mosaic 191 Figure 11 Foligno relief 191 Figure 12 Lamp depicting quadrigae race 191 Figure 13 Floor mosaic, Bell-lloc (Gerona) 193 Figure 14 Black and white mosaic, Ostia 194 Figure 15 Lamp disk 195 Figure 16 Lamp disk 195 Figure 17 Lamp 196 Figure 18 Fibula 196 Figure 19 Knife handle 197 Figure 20 Knife handle 197 Figure 21 Knife handle 198 viii Figure 22 Knife handle 198 Figure 23 Knife handle 198 Figure 24 Knife handle 198 Figure 25a Glass beaker, Corning Museum 201 Figure 25b Complete decoration of cup 201 Figure 26 Fragment of cup decoration 201 Figure 27 Mosaic, Cherchel 212 Figure 28 Mosaic detail, Tunisia 212 Figure 29 Mosaic, Hadrumetum 213 Figure 30 Lamp with procession 213 Figure 31 Mosaic of horses, House of the Horses 215 Figure 32 Jar depicting race of quadrigae 281 Figure 33 Glass vessel depicting race of quadrigae 281 Figure 34 Four-horse chariot team on an intaglio 282 Figure 35 Twenty-horse chariot team on an intaglio 282 Figure 36 Victorious charioteer on a lamp 282 Figure 37 Victorious charioteer on a money box 282 ix Ph.D. Thesis – A. Devitt; McMaster University - Classics INTRODUCTION Public games were presented regularly in Rome as a method of entertaining the masses, and as the spectacles (spectacula) continued to grow in popularity, they also grew in scale, with elite citizens funding them to reinforce their status and to gain popular support in politics. Although gladiatorial combat has been the basis of much scholarship, chariot racing in fact had the greater popularity in the Roman world. The Circus Maximus in Rome was far older and larger than the nearby Colosseum, and the races were beloved by devoted fans throughout the Roman empire, drawing crowds centuries after the gladiatorial games ended. The sport of chariot racing was an integral part of public entertainment that engrossed the majority of the Roman population, with popularity so great that it pervaded Roman society and politics. The Roman spectacle audience was lively and responsive; at the circus the spectators fervently supported their favourites and were devoted in their engagement with the sport. Fans of the chariot races were remarkably influential, as they not only sought to participate in the competitions from their places in the stands but also prompted the involvement of others with the increasingly popular sport. Studies of sports, both ancient and modern, tend to focus on the sport itself, its production and performance; seldom are the fans identified as the central subject for examination. In the ancient sources sports fans, particularly circus fans, are a group that is under- or unrepresented and often relegated to little more than brief anecdotes concerning their boisterous and immoderate 1 Ph.D. Thesis – A. Devitt; McMaster University - Classics behaviour. Yet questions concerning the interest and behaviour of sports fans, who themselves represent a significant aspect of Roman culture, are worthy of sustained attention.1 Modern scholars have often attempted to correlate the partisanship of circus fans to political parties or religious connections; while these possible connections do have value, they are by no means the only factors of merit in the discussion of these fan groups.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 1 the Politics of the Arena
    THE POLITICS OF THE ARENA 1 1 The Politics of the Arena Origin and Growth of Games The great games of the ancient Mediterranean grew out of religious holidays to become spectacular celebrations of the divine pantheon, events that not only called upon divine support to ensure continued prosperity for the state, but also offered an elaborate, formalized series of actions that encouraged, even required, the participation of an expanded human audience. These spectacles tended to follow a standard format of procession, sacrifice, and games. The procession, the first part of the festival, was, practically speaking, a means of conveying the worshipers, the officiants, and their implements of worship to the sacred space of the altar or temple. To enhance the ritual quality of the movement, the procession followed a specific, religiously significant pathway; the personnel were arranged in a specific order; the participants wore particular kinds of clothing, spoke or sang ritual words. These guidelines could involve sacrificial animals in the procession as well, who not only would be draped in wreaths or ribbons, to set them apart from “common” animals, to make them “sacred”, but also were meant to conform to certain kinds of behavior: they had to seem willing to approach the altar, and cult officials who accompanied them made sure of this. The procession was followed by the sacrifice. Sacrifice was the basic act of Graeco-Roman religion, establishing a positive relationship between deity and worshiper through the offering of a gift; this could mean the immolation of an animal, the pouring of a wine or oil libation, or setting cakes or flowers on the god’s altar for his enjoyment.
    [Show full text]
  • Domitian's Arae Incendii Neroniani in New Flavian Rome
    Rising from the Ashes: Domitian’s Arae Incendii Neroniani in New Flavian Rome Lea K. Cline In the August 1888 edition of the Notizie degli Scavi, profes- on a base of two steps; it is a long, solid rectangle, 6.25 m sors Guliermo Gatti and Rodolfo Lanciani announced the deep, 3.25 m wide, and 1.26 m high (lacking its crown). rediscovery of a Domitianic altar on the Quirinal hill during These dimensions make it the second largest public altar to the construction of the Casa Reale (Figures 1 and 2).1 This survive in the ancient capital. Built of travertine and revet- altar, found in situ on the southeast side of the Alta Semita ted in marble, this altar lacks sculptural decoration. Only its (an important northern thoroughfare) adjacent to the church inscription identifies it as an Ara Incendii Neroniani, an altar of San Andrea al Quirinale, was not unknown to scholars.2 erected in fulfillment of a vow made after the great fire of The site was discovered, but not excavated, in 1644 when Nero (A.D. 64).7 Pope Urban VIII (Maffeo Barberini) and Gianlorenzo Bernini Archaeological evidence attests to two other altars, laid the foundations of San Andrea al Quirinale; at that time, bearing identical inscriptions, excavated in the sixteenth the inscription was removed to the Vatican, and then the and seventeenth centuries; the Ara Incendii Neroniani found altar was essentially forgotten.3 Lanciani’s notes from May on the Quirinal was the last of the three to be discovered.8 22, 1889, describe a fairly intact structure—a travertine block Little is known of the two other altars; one, presumably altar with remnants of a marble base molding on two sides.4 found on the Vatican plain, was reportedly used as building Although the altar’s inscription was not in situ, Lanciani refers material for the basilica of St.
    [Show full text]
  • The Evolution of the Roman Calendar Dwayne Meisner, University of Regina
    The Evolution of the Roman Calendar Dwayne Meisner, University of Regina Abstract The Roman calendar was first developed as a lunar | 290 calendar, so it was difficult for the Romans to reconcile this with the natural solar year. In 45 BC, Julius Caesar reformed the calendar, creating a solar year of 365 days with leap years every four years. This article explains the process by which the Roman calendar evolved and argues that the reason February has 28 days is that Caesar did not want to interfere with religious festivals that occurred in February. Beginning as a lunar calendar, the Romans developed a lunisolar system that tried to reconcile lunar months with the solar year, with the unfortunate result that the calendar was often inaccurate by up to four months. Caesar fixed this by changing the lengths of most months, but made no change to February because of the tradition of intercalation, which the article explains, and because of festivals that were celebrated in February that were connected to the Roman New Year, which had originally been on March 1. Introduction The reason why February has 28 days in the modern calendar is that Caesar did not want to interfere with festivals that honored the dead, some of which were Past Imperfect 15 (2009) | © | ISSN 1711-053X | eISSN 1718-4487 connected to the position of the Roman New Year. In the earliest calendars of the Roman Republic, the year began on March 1, because the consuls, after whom the year was named, began their years in office on the Ides of March.
    [Show full text]
  • Contextualizing Ancient Greek Blood Sports
    Contextualizing Ancient Greek Blood Sports While research on Roman spectacles of bestial violence (e.g. venationes, damnatio ad bestias) has had success in elucidating the cultural and universal meanings of these events, less attention has been paid to acts of communal violence against animals within the ancient Greek world. There is ample evidence for the existence of quail flipping, partridge fighting, bull fighting, cockfighting, and other acts such as bull leaping and animal baiting, to show that the Greeks found value in these blood sports. Although past scholars have addressed issues such as the symbolism of cocks and cockfighting (Csapso 1993) and the potential psychology and sociology underlying the events (Shelton 2011; Geertz 1971 on Balinese cockfighting), few have attempted to analyze these various games and contests within the overarching scheme of Greek athletics. While victories in chariot racing at Olympia could confer honor onto a polis (one may recall Alcibiades boasting of such a deed during the debate about the Sicilian expedition, Thucydides, 6.16), the outcome of the smaller blood sports brought about honors inherently limited to closed circles of individuals. Further, the heightened violence of these games necessitates an analysis in regards to their social functions and meanings. While it is accepted that blood sports among the Greeks could serve as markers of status and masculinity (Kyle 2007), further research is needed to explain why these events could serve such a function and also how the honors obtained differed from those acquired through the games and athletics of the Pan-Hellenic sanctuaries. Given the richness of evidence in both the literary and material record, the Greek predilection for cockfighting is a natural place to begin an inquiry into Greek blood sports.
    [Show full text]
  • Liberalia Tu Accusas ! Restituting the Ancient Date of Caesar’S Funus*
    LIBERALIA TU ACCUSAS ! RESTITUTING THE ANCIENT DATE OF CAESAR’S FUNUS* Francesco CAROTTA**, Arne EICKENBERG*** Résumé. – Du récit unanime des anciens historiographes il ressort que le funus de Jules César eut lieu le 17 mars 44 av. J.-C. Or la communauté académique moderne prétend presque aussi unanimement que cette date est erronée, sans s’accorder cependant sur une alternative. Dans la littérature scientifique on donne des dates entre le 18 et le 23, et plus précisément le 20 mars, en s’appuyant sur la chronologie avancée par Drumann et Groebe. L’analyse des sources historiques et des évènements qui suivirent l’assassinat de César jusqu’à ses funérailles, prouve que les auteurs anciens ne s’étaient pas trompés, et que Groebe avait reconnu la méprise de Drumann mais avait évité de l’amender. La correction de cette erreur invétérée va permettre de mieux examiner le contexte politique et religieux des funérailles de César. Abstract. – 17 March 44 BCE results from the reports by the ancient historiographers as to the date of Julius Caesar’s funus. However, today’s academic community has consistetly claimed that they were all mistaken, however, an alternative has not been agreed on. Dates between 18 and 23 March have been suggested in scientific literature—mostly 20 March, which is the date based on the chronology supplied by Drumann and Groebe. The analysis of the historical sources and of the events following Caesar’s murder until his funeral proves that the ancient writers were right, and that Groebe had recognized Drumann’s false dating, but avoided to adjust it.
    [Show full text]
  • A View of the Horse from the Classical Perspective the Penn Museum Collection by Donald White
    A View of the Horse from the Classical Perspective The Penn Museum Collection by donald white quus caballus is handsomely stabled in tive how-to manual On Horsemanship (“The tail and mane the University of Pennsylvania Museum of should be washed, to keep the hairs growing, as the tail is used Archaeology and Anthropology. From the to swat insects and the mane may be grabbed by the rider Chinese Rotunda’s masterpiece reliefs portray- more easily if long.”) all the way down to the 9th century AD ing two horses of the Chinese emperor Taizong Corpus of Greek Horse Veterinarians, which itemizes drugs for Eto Edward S. Curtis’s iconic American Indian photographs curing equine ailments as well as listing vets by name, Greek housed in the Museum’s Archives, horses stand with man and Roman literature is filled with equine references. One in nearly every culture and time-frame represented in the recalls the cynical utterance of the 5th century BC lyric poet Museum’s Collection (pre-Columbian America and the Xenophanes from the Asia Minor city of Colophon: “But if northern polar region being perhaps the two most obvious cattle and horses and lions had hands, or were able to do the exceptions). Examples drawn from the more than 30,000 work that men can, horses would draw the forms of the gods like Greek, Roman, and Etruscan vases, sculptures, and other horses” (emphasis added by author). objects in the Museum’s Mediterranean Section serve here as The partnership between horse and master in antiquity rested a lens through which to view some of the notable roles the on many factors; perhaps the most important was that the horse horse played in the classical Mediterranean world.
    [Show full text]
  • Ritual Cleaning-Up of the City: from the Lupercalia to the Argei*
    RITUAL CLEANING-UP OF THE CITY: FROM THE LUPERCALIA TO THE ARGEI* This paper is not an analysis of the fine aspects of ritual, myth and ety- mology. I do not intend to guess the exact meaning of Luperci and Argei, or why the former sacrificed a dog and the latter were bound hand and foot. What I want to examine is the role of the festivals of the Lupercalia and the Argei in the functioning of the Roman community. The best-informed among ancient writers were convinced that these were purification cere- monies. I assume that the ancients knew what they were talking about and propose, first, to establish the nature of the ritual cleanliness of the city, and second, see by what techniques the two festivals achieved that goal. What, in the perception of the Romans themselves, normally made their city unclean? What were the ordinary, repetitive sources of pollution in pre-Imperial Rome, before the concept of the cura Urbis was refined? The answer to this is provided by taboos and restrictions on certain sub- stances, and also certain activities, in the City. First, there is a rule from the Twelve Tables with Cicero’s curiously anachronistic comment: «hominem mortuum», inquit lex in duodecim, «in urbe ne sepelito neve urito», credo vel propter ignis periculum (De leg. II 58). Secondly, we have the edict of the praetor L. Sentius C.f., known from three inscrip- tions dating from the beginning of the first century BC1: L. Sentius C. f. pr(aetor) de sen(atus) sent(entia) loca terminanda coer(avit).
    [Show full text]
  • Reevaluating the Nika Riot & Placing It in Conversation with the Antioch
    Xavier University Exhibit Honors Bachelor of Arts Undergraduate 2019-4 Reevaluating the Nika Riot & Placing it in Conversation with the Antioch Riot of 387 Ty Richer Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH Follow this and additional works at: https://www.exhibit.xavier.edu/hab Part of the Ancient History, Greek and Roman through Late Antiquity Commons, Ancient Philosophy Commons, Classical Archaeology and Art History Commons, Classical Literature and Philology Commons, and the Other Classics Commons Recommended Citation Richer, Ty, "Reevaluating the Nika Riot & Placing it in Conversation with the Antioch Riot of 387" (2019). Honors Bachelor of Arts. 39. https://www.exhibit.xavier.edu/hab/39 This Capstone/Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Undergraduate at Exhibit. It has been accepted for inclusion in Honors Bachelor of Arts by an authorized administrator of Exhibit. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Reevaluating the Nika Riot & Placing it in Conversation with the Antioch Riot of 387 By: Ty Richer CPHAB Senior Thesis Xavier University 2019 1 Introduction: A Fine Mess on a Sunny Day You enter into the stadium and find a place to sit down, doing chores around the house made you late, but multiple races run each day, so much of the fun is still ahead. Behind you sits a man, having brought his son to see the games. In front of you is a young man and woman talking about their interests, on their first date no doubt. You strike up a conversation with the man sitting to your left and begin to talk about the new taxes you both have to pay.
    [Show full text]
  • Monday 1St June 2020 Objective: to Understand the Meaning of Words in a Text ANSWERS
    Monday 1st June 2020 Objective: To understand the meaning of words in a text ANSWERS 1. Any complete sentence which makes sense where the children have correctly used and understood the word. 1. There was a riotous noise coming from the music room. 2. The witness swore an oath before the judges. 3. I was enthralled by the story. Tuesday1. 2nd June 2020 Objective: To retrieve information from a text ANSWERS 1. For how many centuries were the Olympic Games the highlight of Ancient Greece? 12 2. When did the Persians invade Greece? The summer of 480 BC 3. Why did the Greek City States have a hard time getting an allied army together? Because so many people wanted to go to the Olympics. 4. Where did the games take place? Olympia 5. How frequently did the games take place? Every four years 6. What tree was marked the sanctuary of Olympia Pock? Olive tree 7. What were these trees used to make? Victory wreaths 8. Who announced the games to the cities around the Mediterranean? heralds 9. Who were allowed to take part in the Olympics? All free Greek males (also accept farmhands, royal heirs and soldiers) 10. Who could own a chariot? anyone 11. When did Kyniska claim victory wreaths? 396BC and 392BC 12. What did Greeks often gather for during the religious festival of the games? Riotous barbeques 13. Which Greek god was honoured during the games? Zeus 14. How long did the games last for during the fifth century? Five days 15. Name three events that competitors took part in during the Olympic Games.
    [Show full text]
  • Subsidiarity and Hierarchy in the Roman Empire 122 Frédéric Hurlet Vi Contents
    The Impact of Justice on the Roman Empire Impact of Empire Roman Empire, c. 200 B.C.–A.D. 476 Edited by Olivier Hekster (Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands) Editorial Board Stéphane Benoist Angelos Chaniotis Lien Foubert Anne Kolb Luuk de Ligt Elio Lo Cascio Bernhard Palme Michael Peachin Francisco Pina Polo Rubina Raja Christian Witschel Greg Woolf volume 34 The titles published in this series are listed at brill.com/imem The Impact of Justice on the Roman Empire Proceedings of the Thirteenth Workshop of the International Network Impact of Empire (Gent, June 21–24, 2017) Edited by Olivier Hekster Koenraad Verboven LEIDEN | BOSTON This is an open access title distributed under the terms of the CC-BY-NC 4.0 License, which permits any non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Impact of Empire (Organization). Workshop (13th : 2017 : Ghent, Belgium). | Hekster, Olivier, editor. | Verboven, Koenraad, editor. Title: The impact of justice on the Roman Empire : proceedings of the thirteenth workshop of the International Network Impact of Empire (Gent, June 21-24, 2017) / edited by Olivier Hekster, Koenraad Verboven. Description: Leiden ; Boston : Brill Nijhoff, 2019. | Series: Impact of empire, Roman Empire, c. 200 B.C.-A.D. 476 ; Volume 34 | Includes bibliographical references and index. Identifiers: LCCN 2019011698 (print) | LCCN 2019013016 (ebook) | ISBN 9789004400474 (ebook) | ISBN 9789004400450 (hardback : alk. paper) Subjects: Subjects: LCSH: Roman law–Political aspects–Congresses. | Justice, Administration of (Roman law)–Congresses. | Rome–Politics and government–30 B.C.-476 A.D.–Congresses.
    [Show full text]
  • Calendar of Roman Events
    Introduction Steve Worboys and I began this calendar in 1980 or 1981 when we discovered that the exact dates of many events survive from Roman antiquity, the most famous being the ides of March murder of Caesar. Flipping through a few books on Roman history revealed a handful of dates, and we believed that to fill every day of the year would certainly be impossible. From 1981 until 1989 I kept the calendar, adding dates as I ran across them. In 1989 I typed the list into the computer and we began again to plunder books and journals for dates, this time recording sources. Since then I have worked and reworked the Calendar, revising old entries and adding many, many more. The Roman Calendar The calendar was reformed twice, once by Caesar in 46 BC and later by Augustus in 8 BC. Each of these reforms is described in A. K. Michels’ book The Calendar of the Roman Republic. In an ordinary pre-Julian year, the number of days in each month was as follows: 29 January 31 May 29 September 28 February 29 June 31 October 31 March 31 Quintilis (July) 29 November 29 April 29 Sextilis (August) 29 December. The Romans did not number the days of the months consecutively. They reckoned backwards from three fixed points: The kalends, the nones, and the ides. The kalends is the first day of the month. For months with 31 days the nones fall on the 7th and the ides the 15th. For other months the nones fall on the 5th and the ides on the 13th.
    [Show full text]
  • Roman Coins – Mass Media for Image Cultivation
    Roman Coins – Mass Media for Image Cultivation Unlike modern coins, Roman money was characterized by an enormous diversity of coin images. This reflected not so much the desire for change, however, but rather an often very purposeful policy of concrete self-interests. At the time of the Roman Republic, coins were issued on behalf of the senate by a committee of moneyers. These men decided independently what motifs their coins were to bear, and, from the late 2nd century BC, used this liberty often for family propaganda. Later, during the time of the Firs and second triumvirate (60 to 32 BC), coins were issued by several powerful Romans or their adherents. These pieces were not republican any more, but imperatorial, and used mainly for the representation of political dispositions and ambitions. In imperial times finally (from 27 BC), the rulers of Rome were in charge of the issuance of money. Naturally, they used the large Roman coins for the artful conversion of political propaganda and self-manifestation as well. 1 von 20 www.sunflower.ch Roman Republic, L. Caecilius Metellus Diadematur (or Delmaticus), Denarius, 128 BC Denomination: Denarius Mint Authority: Moneyer Lucius Caecilius Metellus Diadematus (?) Mint: Rome Year of Issue: -128 Weight (g): 3.94 Diameter (mm): 18.0 Material: Silver Owner: Sunflower Foundation This denarius bears on the obverse a traditional motif, the head of Roma, the goddess and personification of Rome, wearing a winged attic helmet; behind her is the mark XVI for the value of 16 asses. The reverse depicts a goddess driving a biga, a two-horse racing chariot.
    [Show full text]