The course looks at leisure and entertainment from an interdisciplinary perspective with special attention to artistic, anthropological, sociological and historical aspects. The historical scope of the course encompasses both the early days of the republic and the imperial period. There was private leisure in the daily lives of Romans as well as organized public leisure on special occasions. The former involved dining, bathing, social relations and countryside otia. The latter involved sports, gladiator competitions, chariot races, athletic games and attending social events such as "triumphs" and religious rituals organized by those who had economic and political power. By putting these aspects of Roman life in their urban and architectural context, the course will also take a comparative look at leisure in ancient times and in the contemporary world. The assigned readings will analyze the connection between leisure, economic purpose and social order.
Learning outcomes:
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- identify the main themes in the concept of leisure in ancient Rome
- recognize the main structures associated with entertainment and leisure in ancient time
- understand the impact and the political implications of the games for the Roman society
- get acquainted with the main ancient and modern sources in order to be able to continue research on the topic
- observe evidence from the archaeological record on different form of public entertainment
Method of presentation:
Lectures, visual presentations, field studies to archaeological sites, monuments and museums, student presentations.
Field study:
In the following field studies, the archaeological sites and monuments will be approached by focusing on the specific historical related subjects examined during class:
Colosseum
Circus of Maxentius on the Appian Way
Baths of Caracalla
Day trip to Ostia Antica
Required work and form of assessment:
Class participation (15%); mid-term exam (20%); oral presentation on a topic chosen with the professor (10%) followed by a research paper (25%); final exam (30%). The mid-term and final exams are based on a mix of multiple choice, Q&A, open answer questions and picture ID.
content:
WEEK 1.
-Session 1: The origins of sports and other types of entertainment. Forms of evidence for reconstructing the shows (archaeology, epigraphy etc.)
Reading Assignments: Textbook chap 1 and 6
-Session 2: Greek–style athletics.
Reading Assignments:
Kyle, Donald G., Sports and Spectacle in the Ancient World, Blackwell Publishing, 2007: pp. 251-257; 274-278; 329-339.
WEEK 2.
-Session 1: Religion and Power: Chariot racing
Reading Assignments: Textbook chap 2
-Session 2: Field Study: The Circus of Maxentius
WEEK 3.
-Session 1: The munera and the political propaganda
-Session 2: Gladiators and animal spectacles
Reading Assignments: Textbook chap 3 and 4
Kyle 1998, Spectacles of Death in Ancient Rome , chap. 6 “Arenas and Eating: Corpses and Carcasses as Food?, pp. 184-212
WEEK 4.
-Session 1: Staging death: public executions
Reading Assignments: Fatal Charades: Roman Executions Staged as Mythological Enactments
K. M. Coleman The Journal of Roman Studies , Vol. 80, (1990), pp. 44-73
-Session 2: Field Study: The Colosseum
WEEK 5.
-Session 1: The theatres
-Session 2: Actors, poets and writers: their role and society’s perception.
Reading Assignments:
Rush Rehm, “Festivals and audiences in Athens and Rome”, in The Cambridge Companion to Greek and Roman Theater (2007), pp. 184-201.
Edwards, C. “Unspeakable professions:public performances and prostitution in ancient Rome”, in J.P. Hallett and M.B. Skinner, eds., Roman Sexualities, Princeton 1997: pp.66-95.
Edwards, C., “Playing Romans, Representations of Actors and the Theatre”, in Edwards C., The Politics of Immorality in Ancient Rome, Cambridge, 1993, pp. 98-136.
WEEK 7.
-Session 1: Popular culture and leisure: taverns and gambling
Reading assignments:
J.P.Toner, Leisure and Ancient Rome, Polity Press, 1995, Chaps 7 (Goodbye to Gravitas: Popular Culture and Leisure), 8 (Gambling)
-Session 2: Women and Performances
Reading Assignments:
Monika Truemper, “ Gender and Space: ‘Public’ and ‘Private’”, in A Companion to Women in the
Ancient World, eds. Sharon L.James and Sheila Dillon, Wiley-Blackwell, 2012, pp.288-303
Ruth Webb, “Female entertainers in late antiquity”, in Greek and Roman Actors. Aspects of an
Ancient Profession, eds. Pat Easterling and Edith Hall, Cambridge University Press, 2002,
pp.282-303.
Roy Bowen Ward, Women in Roman Baths, The Harvard Theological Review , Vol. 85, No. 2 (Apr., 1992), pp. 125-147
“Nudity and Male/Female Mixed Bathing” in in G.G. Fagan, Bathing in Public in the
Roman World, University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, pp. 24-29.
Anna McCullough , Female Gladiators in Imperial Rome: Literary Context and Historical Fact, The Classical World , Vol. 101, No. 2 (Winter, 2008), pp. 197-209
Field Trip to Ostia Antica (Friday)
WEEK 8
-Session 1: Water displays: Baths and naumachie
-Session 2: field study: The Baths of Caracalla
Reading Assignment: Textbook chap 5
“Critics of Roman Bathing: Ethical and Moral concerns”, in Yegül, Bathing in the Roman World, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2010, pp.22-30
“Heating and Water Supply systems of Roman baths”, in Yegül, Bathing in the Roman World, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2010, pp.80-97
“The Bathers”, in G.G. Fagan, Bathing in Public in the Roman World, University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, 1999, chap. 8
“A visit to the Baths with Martial”, in G.G. Fagan, Bathing in Public in the Roman World, University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, pp.12-39.
WEEK 9
-Session 1: Otium and other forms of leisure: dining and hunting
Reading Assignment: J.P.Toner, Leisure and Ancient Rome, Polity Press, 1995, Chaps 4 (Leisure ad Otium),
C.P. Jones, “Dinner Theater”, in W.J. Slater, Dining in a Classical Context, pp. 185-198
Clarke, Roman Life, 2007, pp. 114-134 (Dinner Parties)
J.K. Anderson, Hunting in the Ancient World, University of California Press, 1985, Chap 5 (Roman Hunting)
-Session 2: Staging immortality: the Roman funeral and the Roman triumph
Reading Assignment:
Valerie Hope, Roman Death, 2009, Chap 3, pp.65-96
P. Davies, The Death and the Emperor, University of Texas Press, Austin, pp 8-11.
Mary Beard, The Roman Triumph, Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2006, Chap.3
WEEK 10
-Session 1: Ancient leisure and modern perspectives
Reading Assignment: Textbook chap 6
-Session 2: Review session
Week 11
Final Exam
Required readings:
CourseTextbook:
Hazel Dodge, Spectacle in the Roman World. Classical World series. London/New York: Bristol Classical Press, 2011.
Kyle, Donald G., Sports and Spectacle in the Ancient World, Blackwell Publishing, 2007: pp. 251-257; 274-278; 329-339.
Kyle 1998, Spectacles of Death in Ancient Rome , chap. 6 “Arenas and Eating: Corpses and Carcasses as Food?, pp. 184-212
Fatal Charades: Roman Executions Staged as Mythological Enactments
K. M. Coleman The Journal of Roman Studies , Vol. 80, (1990), pp. 44-73
Rush Rehm, “Festivals and audiences in Athens and Rome”, in The Cambridge Companion to Greek and Roman Theater (2007), pp. 184-201.
Edwards, C. “Unspeakable professions:public performances and prostitution in ancient Rome”, in J.P. Hallett and M.B. Skinner, eds., Roman Sexualities, Princeton 1997: pp.66-95.
Edwards, C., “Playing Romans, Representations of Actors and the Theatre”, in Edwards C., The Politics of Immorality in Ancient Rome, Cambridge, 1993, pp. 98-136.
J.P.Toner, Leisure and Ancient Rome, Polity Press, 1995, Chaps 7 (Goodbye to Gravitas: Popular Culture and Leisure), 8 (Gambling)
Monika Truemper, “ Gender and Space: ‘Public’ and ‘Private’”, in A Companion to Women in the
Ancient World, eds. Sharon L.James and Sheila Dillon, Wiley-Blackwell, 2012, pp.288-303
Ruth Webb, “Female entertainers in late antiquity”, in Greek and Roman Actors. Aspects of an
Ancient Profession, eds. Pat Easterling and Edith Hall, Cambridge University Press, 2002,
pp.282-303.
Roy Bowen Ward, Women in Roman Baths, The Harvard Theological Review , Vol. 85, No. 2 (Apr., 1992), pp. 125-147
“Nudity and Male/Female Mixed Bathing” in in G.G. Fagan, Bathing in Public in the
Roman World, University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, pp. 24-29.
Anna McCullough , Female Gladiators in Imperial Rome: Literary Context and Historical Fact, The Classical World , Vol. 101, No. 2 (Winter, 2008), pp. 197-209
“Critics of Roman Bathing: Ethical and Moral concerns”, in Yegül, Bathing in the Roman World, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2010, pp.22-30
“Heating and Water Supply systems of Roman baths”, in Yegül, Bathing in the Roman World, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2010, pp.80-97
“The Bathers”, in G.G. Fagan, Bathing in Public in the Roman World, University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, 1999, chap. 8
“A visit to the Baths with Martial”, in G.G. Fagan, Bathing in Public in the Roman World, University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, pp.12-39.
C.P. Jones, “Dinner Theater”, in W.J. Slater, Dining in a Classical Context, pp. 185-198
Clarke, Roman Life, 2007, pp. 114-134 (Dinner Parties)
J.K. Anderson, Hunting in the Ancient World, University of California Press, 1985, Chap 5 (Roman Hunting)
Valerie Hope, Roman Death, 2009, Chap 3, pp.65-96
P. Davies, The Death and the Emperor, University of Texas Press, Austin, pp 8-11.
Mary Beard, The Roman Triumph, Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2006, Chap.3
An Anthology of Latin writers will be indicated during the course and will be posted on the Moodle page for this class.
Brief Biography of Instructor:
Valentina Follo obtained her master’s degree in classical archaeology at La Sapienza in Rome, and a master’s in pedagogy of antiquity at the University of Ferrara. She is currently completing her Ph.D. in Art & Archaeology at the University of Pennsylvania. Valentina has published on both the reaffirmation and the repudiation of ancient Greco-Roman models in early modern and contemporary art and architectural practices
The course looks at leisure and entertainment from an interdisciplinary perspective with special attention to artistic, anthropological, sociological and historical aspects. The historical scope of the course encompasses both the early days of the republic and the imperial period. There was private leisure in the daily lives of Romans as well as organized public leisure on special occasions. The former involved dining, bathing, social relations and countryside otia. The latter involved sports, gladiator competitions, chariot races, athletic games and attending social events such as "triumphs" and religious rituals organized by those who had economic and political power. By putting these aspects of Roman life in their urban and architectural context, the course will also take a comparative look at leisure in ancient times and in the contemporary world. The assigned readings will analyze the connection between leisure, economic purpose and social order.
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- identify the main themes in the concept of leisure in ancient Rome
- recognize the main structures associated with entertainment and leisure in ancient time
- understand the impact and the political implications of the games for the Roman society
- get acquainted with the main ancient and modern sources in order to be able to continue research on the topic
- observe evidence from the archaeological record on different form of public entertainment
Lectures, visual presentations, field studies to archaeological sites, monuments and museums, student presentations.
In the following field studies, the archaeological sites and monuments will be approached by focusing on the specific historical related subjects examined during class:
Colosseum
Circus of Maxentius on the Appian Way
Baths of Caracalla
Day trip to Ostia Antica
Class participation (15%); mid-term exam (20%); oral presentation on a topic chosen with the professor (10%) followed by a research paper (25%); final exam (30%). The mid-term and final exams are based on a mix of multiple choice, Q&A, open answer questions and picture ID.
WEEK 1.
-Session 1: The origins of sports and other types of entertainment. Forms of evidence for reconstructing the shows (archaeology, epigraphy etc.)
Reading Assignments: Textbook chap 1 and 6
-Session 2: Greek–style athletics.
Reading Assignments:
Kyle, Donald G., Sports and Spectacle in the Ancient World, Blackwell Publishing, 2007: pp. 251-257; 274-278; 329-339.
WEEK 2.
-Session 1: Religion and Power: Chariot racing
Reading Assignments: Textbook chap 2
-Session 2: Field Study: The Circus of Maxentius
WEEK 3.
-Session 1: The munera and the political propaganda
-Session 2: Gladiators and animal spectacles
Reading Assignments: Textbook chap 3 and 4
Kyle 1998, Spectacles of Death in Ancient Rome , chap. 6 “Arenas and Eating: Corpses and Carcasses as Food?, pp. 184-212
WEEK 4.
-Session 1: Staging death: public executions
Reading Assignments: Fatal Charades: Roman Executions Staged as Mythological Enactments
K. M. Coleman The Journal of Roman Studies , Vol. 80, (1990), pp. 44-73
-Session 2: Field Study: The Colosseum
WEEK 5.
-Session 1: The theatres
-Session 2: Actors, poets and writers: their role and society’s perception.
Reading Assignments:
Rush Rehm, “Festivals and audiences in Athens and Rome”, in The Cambridge Companion to Greek and Roman Theater (2007), pp. 184-201.
Edwards, C. “Unspeakable professions:public performances and prostitution in ancient Rome”, in J.P. Hallett and M.B. Skinner, eds., Roman Sexualities, Princeton 1997: pp.66-95.
Edwards, C., “Playing Romans, Representations of Actors and the Theatre”, in Edwards C., The Politics of Immorality in Ancient Rome, Cambridge, 1993, pp. 98-136.
WEEK 6.
-Session 1: review session
-Session 2: Mid Term exam
WEEK 7.
-Session 1: Popular culture and leisure: taverns and gambling
Reading assignments:
J.P.Toner, Leisure and Ancient Rome, Polity Press, 1995, Chaps 7 (Goodbye to Gravitas: Popular Culture and Leisure), 8 (Gambling)
-Session 2: Women and Performances
Reading Assignments:
Monika Truemper, “ Gender and Space: ‘Public’ and ‘Private’”, in A Companion to Women in the
Ancient World, eds. Sharon L.James and Sheila Dillon, Wiley-Blackwell, 2012, pp.288-303
Ruth Webb, “Female entertainers in late antiquity”, in Greek and Roman Actors. Aspects of an
Ancient Profession, eds. Pat Easterling and Edith Hall, Cambridge University Press, 2002,
pp.282-303.
Roy Bowen Ward, Women in Roman Baths, The Harvard Theological Review , Vol. 85, No. 2 (Apr., 1992), pp. 125-147
“Nudity and Male/Female Mixed Bathing” in in G.G. Fagan, Bathing in Public in the
Roman World, University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, pp. 24-29.
Anna McCullough , Female Gladiators in Imperial Rome: Literary Context and Historical Fact, The Classical World , Vol. 101, No. 2 (Winter, 2008), pp. 197-209
Field Trip to Ostia Antica (Friday)
WEEK 8
-Session 1: Water displays: Baths and naumachie
-Session 2: field study: The Baths of Caracalla
Reading Assignment: Textbook chap 5
“Critics of Roman Bathing: Ethical and Moral concerns”, in Yegül, Bathing in the Roman World, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2010, pp.22-30
“Heating and Water Supply systems of Roman baths”, in Yegül, Bathing in the Roman World, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2010, pp.80-97
“The Bathers”, in G.G. Fagan, Bathing in Public in the Roman World, University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, 1999, chap. 8
“A visit to the Baths with Martial”, in G.G. Fagan, Bathing in Public in the Roman World, University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, pp.12-39.
WEEK 9
-Session 1: Otium and other forms of leisure: dining and hunting
Reading Assignment: J.P.Toner, Leisure and Ancient Rome, Polity Press, 1995, Chaps 4 (Leisure ad Otium),
C.P. Jones, “Dinner Theater”, in W.J. Slater, Dining in a Classical Context, pp. 185-198
Clarke, Roman Life, 2007, pp. 114-134 (Dinner Parties)
J.K. Anderson, Hunting in the Ancient World, University of California Press, 1985, Chap 5 (Roman Hunting)
-Session 2: Staging immortality: the Roman funeral and the Roman triumph
Reading Assignment:
Valerie Hope, Roman Death, 2009, Chap 3, pp.65-96
P. Davies, The Death and the Emperor, University of Texas Press, Austin, pp 8-11.
Mary Beard, The Roman Triumph, Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2006, Chap.3
WEEK 10
-Session 1: Ancient leisure and modern perspectives
Reading Assignment: Textbook chap 6
-Session 2: Review session
Week 11
Final Exam
CourseTextbook:
Hazel Dodge, Spectacle in the Roman World. Classical World series. London/New York: Bristol Classical Press, 2011.
Kyle, Donald G., Sports and Spectacle in the Ancient World, Blackwell Publishing, 2007: pp. 251-257; 274-278; 329-339.
Kyle 1998, Spectacles of Death in Ancient Rome , chap. 6 “Arenas and Eating: Corpses and Carcasses as Food?, pp. 184-212
Fatal Charades: Roman Executions Staged as Mythological Enactments
K. M. Coleman The Journal of Roman Studies , Vol. 80, (1990), pp. 44-73
Rush Rehm, “Festivals and audiences in Athens and Rome”, in The Cambridge Companion to Greek and Roman Theater (2007), pp. 184-201.
Edwards, C. “Unspeakable professions:public performances and prostitution in ancient Rome”, in J.P. Hallett and M.B. Skinner, eds., Roman Sexualities, Princeton 1997: pp.66-95.
Edwards, C., “Playing Romans, Representations of Actors and the Theatre”, in Edwards C., The Politics of Immorality in Ancient Rome, Cambridge, 1993, pp. 98-136.
J.P.Toner, Leisure and Ancient Rome, Polity Press, 1995, Chaps 7 (Goodbye to Gravitas: Popular Culture and Leisure), 8 (Gambling)
Monika Truemper, “ Gender and Space: ‘Public’ and ‘Private’”, in A Companion to Women in the
Ancient World, eds. Sharon L.James and Sheila Dillon, Wiley-Blackwell, 2012, pp.288-303
Ruth Webb, “Female entertainers in late antiquity”, in Greek and Roman Actors. Aspects of an
Ancient Profession, eds. Pat Easterling and Edith Hall, Cambridge University Press, 2002,
pp.282-303.
Roy Bowen Ward, Women in Roman Baths, The Harvard Theological Review , Vol. 85, No. 2 (Apr., 1992), pp. 125-147
“Nudity and Male/Female Mixed Bathing” in in G.G. Fagan, Bathing in Public in the
Roman World, University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, pp. 24-29.
Anna McCullough , Female Gladiators in Imperial Rome: Literary Context and Historical Fact, The Classical World , Vol. 101, No. 2 (Winter, 2008), pp. 197-209
“Critics of Roman Bathing: Ethical and Moral concerns”, in Yegül, Bathing in the Roman World, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2010, pp.22-30
“Heating and Water Supply systems of Roman baths”, in Yegül, Bathing in the Roman World, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2010, pp.80-97
“The Bathers”, in G.G. Fagan, Bathing in Public in the Roman World, University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, 1999, chap. 8
“A visit to the Baths with Martial”, in G.G. Fagan, Bathing in Public in the Roman World, University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, pp.12-39.
C.P. Jones, “Dinner Theater”, in W.J. Slater, Dining in a Classical Context, pp. 185-198
Clarke, Roman Life, 2007, pp. 114-134 (Dinner Parties)
J.K. Anderson, Hunting in the Ancient World, University of California Press, 1985, Chap 5 (Roman Hunting)
Valerie Hope, Roman Death, 2009, Chap 3, pp.65-96
P. Davies, The Death and the Emperor, University of Texas Press, Austin, pp 8-11.
Mary Beard, The Roman Triumph, Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2006, Chap.3
An Anthology of Latin writers will be indicated during the course and will be posted on the Moodle page for this class.
Valentina Follo obtained her master’s degree in classical archaeology at La Sapienza in Rome, and a master’s in pedagogy of antiquity at the University of Ferrara. She is currently completing her Ph.D. in Art & Archaeology at the University of Pennsylvania. Valentina has published on both the reaffirmation and the repudiation of ancient Greco-Roman models in early modern and contemporary art and architectural practices