Roman Religion (9781316261392) by Warrior Valerie M

Roman Religion (9781316261392) by Warrior Valerie M

Author:Warrior, Valerie M.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Cambridge Univ Pr
Published: 2006-11-15T00:00:00+00:00


50 A second-century CE funeral stele from Daldis (Turkey) erected by Ammias in memory of her husband, the Thracian gladiator Antaios who had probably named himself after the mythological giant Antaios, a wrestler who defeated and killed all his foes.

Another increasingly popular feature was the display of animals. As a result of Rome’s overseas conquests, various exotic creatures such as elephants were exhibited, as well as indigenous animals like bears, bulls, stags, and boars. At the votive games given by the general Marcus Fulvius Nobilior after a victory in Greece, a panther and lion hunt was staged, and for the first time a contest of athletes was presented “as a spectacle” (Livy 39.22). Rivalry soon developed between the sponsors of the different kinds of spectacle, on the principle that the more expensive and elaborate the gift, the more the gods would be pleased and bestow their favor accordingly. In the increasingly politicized atmosphere of the later republic, both the aediles who organized the annual games and the victorious generals who sponsored votive games escalated their bids for the people’s favor by providing bigger and better spectacles. The gods were still represented, but the officials who organized or sponsored the festivals were claiming the gratitude of the people for themselves rather than honoring the gods.



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