These games solidified the Roman identify. Wiedemann also saw the executions as a community involvement in melting out punishments. During that time, these games are ‘associated with the public execution of criminals of low status.’ The Romans also realised that staging bloody events as entertainment would keep them used to the sights of wars and death, which were an everyday reality in the Roman Empire.
Secondly, these games allowed punishments to be made visible. Public executions served the important functions of the game. Traitors, robbers, murderers, rebels and prisoners of war against Roman rule were publicly executed. Justice seems to be done as the Roman felt that these criminals deserved to die. Hence, it involved more than justice. The emperor has spent a huge sum of money to build the Colosseum so as to attract his people to watch the games. Ancient writer like Apuleius glorified the game shows as public pleasure (RB1, C3, P.94). In other words, it possesses entertainment value for the Romans.
Thirdly, the games emphasized Roman power. It was a practical sign that Romans were proud of their strength and stamina that made Rome great. To the Romans, it was a “symbol of the ordered world, the ‘cosmos’, and it was the emperor who was the guarantor of that order” (RB1, C11, P.104). However, Ciero’s attitude towards gladiator shows was inhuman (RB1, C8, P.98). Thus, it was more to encourage Romans’ cruelty and their courage shown at the games.
Fourthly, the games offered the brave a possibility of social rebirth. The Romans commended bravery and a criminal gladiator may be granted life if he comes back alive as a victor. The “symbolism of public execution” seemed to be “deeply ingained in” the Christian consciousness (RB1, C11, P101-107). The decision to pardon brave and successful fighters was also a collective and popular one, according to Wiedemann.
Next, the games acted as means of political networking (RB1, C4, P.95-96). Both Pliny and Cicero recognised the role of the games in gaining prestige and status for men in political life (RB1, C4). Such shows were viewed as important ‘networking’, to impress peers and the large populace in Rome.
The games also honoured the dead (RB1, C4, P95-96 and C16, P.117-120). The gladiator contests originated from ostentatious display at aristocratic funerals, where slaves and prisoners of war fought to the death to honour the decreased. Ancient writers like Pliny expressed his approval of gladiator shows and even considered them as a funeral tribute to the wife of Valerius. He considered Valerius being generous for consenting to host that show (RB1, C4, P95-96). In other words, if it was only crime and punishment, he would not thank Valerius for hosting that show.
The games also acted as a mean to differentiate the upper educated class from the lower. Indicating contempt for entertainments enjoyed by the Romans is one way of elevating one’s taste and status and claiming to have a monopoly on finer feelings. For example, Cicero was able to feel the compassion towards suffering animals.
Lastly, the games also acted as a source of betting. The Romans would bet on which gladiator would win. This display the cruel and bloodthirsty nature of the ancient Romans who treated this as a form of enjoyment rather than justice was being seen here. Beside that, the Romans also found that killing beasts as a struggle with nature and they even thought that they were establishing civilization by doing so. Wiedemann says “Gladiatorial shows and wild-beast games…made the onlookers…temporarily incapable of rational thought” (RB1, C11, P.101-102). Thus, the Romans enjoyed watching the games rather than seeing that justice was being done.
After looking at several sources, we realise that the Roman games involved more than justice for the number of reasons – show of imperial strength, punishment of criminals, betting, killing of wild-beasts and most importantly, as a source of entertainment and amusement.
Given the condition of those times, these games were needed the continuation of Roman power throughout the world by the emperor to enhance the glory and emphasize their patronage of all citizens. Hence, in view of the above mentioned, the Roman games were not all about justice being seen to be done.
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