Greek and Roman Humanities: Roman Games Essay

1) Explain the purpose and importance of the games in Roman friendship. transport use examples from the website to expatiate your points. The games in Roman order of magnitude evolved from religious observances and religious rites, the purposes of which over time became lost to the Romans themselves. By the time the religious rites had evolved into representation performances and the circus, the importance of the games to Roman society had become very much like the importance of sports and entertainment in modern American society.The Romans enjoyed the spectacle of the games, gambled on them, developed complicated rules and had entire economic networks strengthened into the games. Although at first the games of the early Roman republic had religious significance, (Games) the later games were purely for entertainment (Games). The influence of the games ran from the highest to the lowest levels of Roman society. Attendance at the games was considered a right of a Roman citizen a nd each of the games, such as chariot racing or gladiators had loyal fans and expert critics when it came to something like chariot racing, The public adored the top drivers.They were quite literally comparable to modern day sports stars. (Games) 2) Considering the brutal nature of what took place in the Colosseum, what tinct do you think the games had on the faith of the average Roman? Although the games were very violent and often brutal, they were far more(prenominal) popular for the Romans than the more refined entertainment of the theater. The story told by the playwright Terence shows exclusively how popular the brutal entertainments were in Roman society when a festival held in honour of the deceased Lucius Aemilius Paulus in 160 BC.Terences comedy The buzz off in law was being staged and all was going well, when suddenly someone in the audience was heard saying that the the gladiatorial fights were about to begin. at heart minutes his audience had disappe bed (Games ). I think it is likely that the games influence on Roman society was to make it more difficult for sophisticated entertainment to cohere mass attention much as it is in modern society. More people watch pro wrestling and NASCAR than go to the ballet or bargain for books of poetry.The overall Roman culture was probably a bit de-sensitized to violence like our own culture. 3) Many people believe that modern America is a mirror image of antediluvian patriarch Rome during the imperial era. How does our entertainment choose any type you wish compare to the types offered in ancient Rome? What parallels are there? What differences exist? Please use examples from the website and your individual(prenominal) experience to illustrate your points.Much of American entertainment relies on violence as much as the Roman games. There are many violent movies, violent video games, and violent television shows. The big difference is that American culture uses purely theatrical and make-believe v iolence whereas Roman society actually performed violent acts up to and including violent murder and torture. Most violent entertainment in modern society does not involve lethal force nor does it include wide-spread betting on the probable death of people.In Rome, quite naturally, there was a huge arrive of betting surrounding the races (Games) and this is much different than in modern society where corporate sponsors use the athletes to promote International conglomerates rather than emrely betting on them. 4) In your opinion, which group of people Romans living in the imperial era or modern Americans are more depraved? Please use examples from both the website and your personal experience to illustrate your points. In my opinion, the Romans were far more depraved than modern Americans.Not only for the bloodshed against humans that they enacted for entertainment, but for their wholesale murder and evil of animals tigers, panthers and lions were let out of cages to be confront ed in long and dangerous chases by armed gladiators. Bulls and rhinoceroses were first brought to a rage, much like in a Spanish bullfight, before they were met their hunters (Games). Additionally, the Romans were so depraved, they staged mock-wars and actual crucifixions for entertainment. Work Cited Anonymous, The Games www. roman-empire. net 5th July 2007. http//www.roman-empire. net/society/soc-games. html 2 pages 1 source MLA Log on to the following web site http//www. roman-empire. net/society/soc-games. html and read about the Roman games and their importance in Roman society. After you have complete the reading, respond to the following 1) Explain the purpose and importance of the games in Roman society. Please use examples from the website to illustrate your points. 2) Considering the brutal nature of what took place in the Colosseum, what impact do you think the games had on the morality of the average Roman?3) Many people believe that modern America is a mirror image of a ncient Rome during the imperial era. How does our entertainment choose any type you wish compare to the types offered in ancient Rome? What parallels are there? What differences exist? Please use examples from the website and your personal experience to illustrate your points. 4) In your opinion, which group of people Romans living in the imperial era or modern Americans are more depraved? Please use examples from both the website and your personal experience to illustrate your points.