The Games
What was the Flavian Amphitheatre in Rome later known as?
Colosseum
What were Roman racetracks called, and what was the name of the largest one in Rome?
Circuses. Circus Maximus.
What did Roman actors wear on stage?
Masks.
Did all Romans have a bathroom?
No. Very few Roman houses had a bathroom, so most people made a daily trip to the public bath-house.
How did rich Romans show off their wealth and power?
By hosting dinner parties.
What kinds of events could people watch at "The Games"?
gladiator fights and wild-beast hunts.
Besides the drivers and the teams, what was a significant factor that added to the excitement and challenge of the races?
The number of horses
How did Roman theatres develop over time?
First, they were made up of primitive wood, later they were built in stone.
Did Romans have soap?
No.
Who cut up the meat for guests at a dinner party, and what did guests use to eat their food?
Slaves.
Besides the audience, what else was housed in the Colosseum's underground tunnels?
Gladiators, animals, and machinery for special effects.
What was different about the seating arrangement for men and women at the chariot races? What about rich and poor people?
They could sit together.
The seating nearest the track was reserved for senators, the rows behind them for equites and the remainder for everyone else.
How did the seating arrangement in the theatre reflect social class?
Each part of the auditorium was reserved for a different class of people. The poorer they were, the higher up they sat.
Some benches were also arranged in front of the stage with the best seats reserved for senators.
Besides bathing, what other activities could people do at the largest bath-houses?
exercise, meet friends, discuss business and politics, or simply relax.
After their baths, they could buy a snack at one of the food stalls, then go for a walk in the gardens, read quietly in the library or sit in the shade playing board games such as chess or backgammon.
What material were most Roman clothes made from?
Most people wore clothes made from wool or linen. In imperial times, fine cotton cloth was imported from India, but was very expensive. Silk, from China was very expensive too.
What was the significance of a gladiator being given a wooden sword?
After many victories, a gladiator might be given a wooden sword, which meant that he was a free man.
How did a victorious chariot driver gain recognition?
Race winners were rewarded with more money, a palm leaf of victory and instant fame.
What characteristics made them unique? Name at least 2.
Scenery and backcloths were sometimes hung behind the actors.
The scenery was manipulated by complicated machinery, and was often very elaborate and realistic.
At first, only men were allowed on stage. Later, women performed too.
How did the cost of entry to the baths differ for men, women, and children?
Entrance to the baths was extremely cheap, especially for men. Women had to pay four times more and children got in free.
How did wealthy Romans use their clothing and accessories to display their status?
Senators’ togas were decorated with a purple stripe.
Rich Roman men and women wore lots of rings, sometimes several on each finger. Wealthy women also wore a glittering variety of gold and silver brooches, bracelets, necklaces and earrings.
How did the seating arrangements at the Colosseum reflect the social hierarchy of ancient Rome?
Rich citizens sat in the best seats, near ground level. Poorer people sat higher up. Women weren’t allowed to sit with men. They had to watch from behind a wall.
What made them so popular among Roman citizens?
Because they were originally part of religious festivals, but then they became popular as entertainment.
Explain the sophisticated method Romans used to clean their bodies, including the tools and materials involved.
The Romans didn’t have soap, so instead they smeared their bodies with perfumed oil. The oil was then scraped off using a curved stick called strigil. Wealthy Romans often frough a slave to do the scraping for them.
Describe a typical dinner party for a wealthy Roman, including how guests were served and what entertainment was provided.
Guests who were invited to a feast lay on couches and ate with their fingers. Slaves cut up the meat for them, served out the food and brought round bowls of water so that the guests could wash their hands. They didn’t have forks but sometimes used knives and spoons. People ate straight from a serving dish, rather than using plates.
Between courses, the guests were entertained by poets, musicians, conjurors or clowns and after dinner there would often be games.