Gladiators and Caesars: The Power of Spectacle in Ancient Rome

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: I originally purchased this book under the presumption that it would some nice lite reading to add to my knowledge about Roman society only to be delightfully surprised that this was an indepth, accurate and insightful look into not only the world of the gladiator, but of all public preformers of Rome

Rating:
Summary: A Vivid View of Ancient Sports
Review: The authors of _Gladiators and Caesars: The Power of Spectacle in Ancient Rome_ (University of California Press; edited by Eckart Köhne and Cornelia Ewigleben) can't help drawing parallels to our own games, or our modern depictions of them. You won't find remarks on the authenticity of the recent movie _Gladiator_, but you can learn plenty about _Ben Hur_. The book shows in profuse illustrations the different categories of gladiator, the weapons each was assigned, and the role they played in the games. It goes into the fates of those who were sentenced to the amphitheater; those sentenced to be torn by wild beasts had no chance, but there were others who were sentenced to gladiatorial school and could possibly gain freedom, money, and celebrity. Of course, they had to survive plenty of mortal combat to do so. The book tells repeatedly about how different Caesars used the games to defuse public anger about governmental conditions. The scholars are complimentary about _Ben Hur_: "Although there are a number of inaccuracies, the film as a whole thrillingly conveys the character and atmosphere, one might even say the quintessence, of such a sporting event, in a way that scholarly attention to detail could never have done on its own."

A handsome, profusely illustrated, big (though paperbound) book, _Gladiators and Caesars_ has thorough detail about a facet of sports history which we can be glad is now past, but which was important in consolidating power in an empire whose history still affects us. Those who enjoy sports will especially find the analogies to modern competition, hero-worship, and media superstardom amusing and enlightening. Those who have no interest in sports will perhaps remember the brutality of gladiatorial combat, and confronted with endless bowl games or professional wrestling while scanning for something good on TV, will be thankful things aren't worse.

Rating:
Summary: A Vivid View of Ancient Sports
Review: The authors of _Gladiators and Caesars: The Power of Spectacle in Ancient Rome_ (University of California Press; edited by Eckart Köhne and Cornelia Ewigleben) can't help drawing parallels to our own games, or our modern depictions of them. You won't find remarks on the authenticity of the recent movie _Gladiator_, but you can learn plenty about _Ben Hur_. The book shows in profuse illustrations the different categories of gladiator, the weapons each was assigned, and the role they played in the games. It goes into the fates of those who were sentenced to the amphitheater; those sentenced to be torn by wild beasts had no chance, but there were others who were sentenced to gladiatorial school and could possibly gain freedom, money, and celebrity. Of course, they had to survive plenty of mortal combat to do so. The book tells repeatedly about how different Caesars used the games to defuse public anger about governmental conditions. The scholars are complimentary about _Ben Hur_: "Although there are a number of inaccuracies, the film as a whole thrillingly conveys the character and atmosphere, one might even say the quintessence, of such a sporting event, in a way that scholarly attention to detail could never have done on its own."

A handsome, profusely illustrated, big (though paperbound) book, _Gladiators and Caesars_ has thorough detail about a facet of sports history which we can be glad is now past, but which was important in consolidating power in an empire whose history still affects us. Those who enjoy sports will especially find the analogies to modern competition, hero-worship, and media superstardom amusing and enlightening. Those who have no interest in sports will perhaps remember the brutality of gladiatorial combat, and confronted with endless bowl games or professional wrestling while scanning for something good on TV, will be thankful things aren't worse.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent book about Rome sports and spectacles!!!
Review: This is the best book that I found about this subject. It is about gladiators,chariot races in Circus Maximus,theatre,greek sports assimilated by the Romans and Venatio. I liked the way that they depicted the gladiators. They don't use drawings or paintings but instead of it they use actors dressed in the way of the ancient gladiators!!! The reconstitution is bona fide thanks to the work of Doctor Marcus Junkelmann,an archeologist specialized in ancient Rome. The tactics and strategy of the diferent kinds of gladiators is explained as well as their equipment,weapons,rules and life in Rome. The chapter about theatre is gorgeous,it show us masks used by the actors(Masks that change the facial expression depending on the angle that the audience see it!). I liked the timeline and how gladiators affect politics and power in ancient Rome,and how caesars utilize them to satisfy the lust of blood and recreation of the population(just for manipulation!).