What attitudes towards the roman games did the ancient writers express? How would you account for their difference and similarities between these attitudes?

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What attitudes towards the roman games did the ancient writers express?  How would you account for their difference and similarities between these attitudes?

The attitudes towards the Roman games articulated by the ancient writers varied to a great extent between the diverse individuals.  

There were those individuals who enjoyed the games, and looked at them as an expression of Roman culture and all that embodied it.  The games were lessons in the Roman virtues of strength and stamina while displaying the bravery and skill personified by the Romans.  On the other hand there were also those individuals who looked at the games in a different light.  Those individuals felt the games were a sure path to the destruction of the very moral fiber that binds out society to humanity.

Martial eludes to the fact that women fought in the arena, something that one might have considered to be looked down upon, was merely the opposite.  The women who fought in the arena were compared to Goddesses and held on such a high pedestal as that of men.   He compares the gladiators to the various Roman Gods multiple times in his writings.  This fact alone is a clear representation of his opinion about the Roman games.  There is nothing greater than one’s God/s and to compare the contenders of the Roman games to them is a sign of his approval.

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Apuleius views the arena activities as a necessity of Roman tradition and culture.  He describes Lucius whom engages in sexual intercourse with a woman mid arena in either a religious ceremony or appointment of punishment for the woman.  In a different article he explains how a man hosts an elaborate and lavish show, a show that simply does not turn out as intended.  However, regardless of the outcome of both, I think it is important to note that both events were described favorably in his eyes.  And both shows are a symbolism for Roman culture; the first being new ...

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