Ancient Greek and Roman Political, Cultural, and Spectacle History

Cylon's attempt to create a tyranny (632 BCE)

A failed coup in Athens where Cylon tried to seize power as a tyrant.

Solon's legal reforms (594/3 BCE)

• Reorganized society: citizenship based on wealth, not birth

• Property not necessary to become citizen Reordered society along socio-economic lines

• Growth of industry = wealth to be distributed to more people

• Wealth rose without any connection to land

• Powerful individuals found new-found wealth and tried to seize power

Panathenaic festival founded (ca. 566 BCE)

A major Athenian festival honoring Athena through athletic, musical, and religious events.

Peisistratid tyranny (ca. 545-508/7 BCE)

• Period when the Peisistratid family ruled Athens as tyrants

• Contribution to Athletics and festivals:

  • Temple construction

  • Infrastructure

  • Commodities

  • Panathenaia

Hipparchus assassinated (514 BCE)

The killing of Hipparchus, contributing to instability and the fall of the Peisistratid rule.

Cleisthenes' democratic reforms (508/7 BCE)

Reforms establishing the foundations of Athenian democracy.

Kyniska wins Olympic chariot race (396 BCE)

First woman recorded as an Olympic victor through owning a chariot team.

Alexander the Great (356-323 BCE)

Macedonian king who spread Greek culture across the Mediterranean and Near East.

Battle of Chaeronea (338 BCE)

Battle where Philip II defeated Greek city-states, ending their independence.

Philip II dies (336 BCE)

victor of the chariot race
Death of Macedonian king, father of Alexander the Great.

Philippeon (ca. 336 BCE)

A circular building at Olympia honoring Philip II and his family.

Nemean Games closed (235 BCE)

The ending of one of the four major Panhellenic festivals.

Zappian Games (1859, 1870, 1875, 1889)

Modern attempts to revive the Olympic Games before the official 1896 revival.

First modern Olympics (1896)

Beginning of the modern Olympic movement in Athens.

Berlin Olympic Games (1936)

Nazi-hosted Games used as propaganda for racial ideology and national power.

Foundation of Rome (753 BCE)

Traditional date Rome was founded.

Roman regal period (753-509 BCE)

Era when Rome was ruled by kings.

Roman Republic (509-27 BCE)

Period of elected magistrates and Senate dominance.

Twelve Tables (ca. 450 BCE)

Earliest public Roman law code.
normalization of violence in law code

Nobilior's games limited to 80,000 sesterces (198-187 BCE)

Senate imposed financial restrictions on games.

Rome conquers Greece (168 BCE)

Marked Roman dominance over Greek world.

Spartacus revolt (73-71 BCE)

Major slave uprising led by gladiator Spartacus.

Lex Calpurnia (67 BCE)

Law regulating electoral bribery; impacted use of games for politics.

Lex Tullia (63 BCE)

Law further limiting political bribery, including use of gladiators.

Catalinarian conspiracy (63 BCE)

Attempted coup in Rome involving planned use of gladiators.

Theater of Pompey built (55 BCE)

First permanent stone theater in Rome.

Julius Caesar assassinated (44 BCE)

Murder of Caesar leading to civil war.

Caesar builds his forum (40s BCE)

Major urban construction for political propaganda.

Roman Empire (27 BCE-410 CE)

Imperial rule beginning with Augustus.

Reign of Augustus (27 BCE-14 CE)

First emperor, major reforms and building projects.

Law of the Julian Theater (20 BCE)

Legislation regulating theater seating and social order.

Senate decree (19 BCE)

Further regulation of public spectacles.

Pompeii amphitheater riot (53 CE)

Riot leading to a 10-year ban on games in Pompeii.

Fire at Rome (64 CE)

Massive fire under Nero's reign.

Domus Aurea built (64-68 CE)

Nero's lavish palace after the fire.

Destruction of Pompeii (79 CE)

Volcanic eruption of Vesuvius.

Opening of the Colosseum (79 CE)

Inauguration of the Flavian Amphitheater.

Constantine bans gladiator games (325 CE)

Christian emperor begins outlawing gladiatorial combat.

Foundation of Constantinople (330 CE)

Shift of Roman capital eastward.

Constantine converts to Christianity (337 CE)

Major turning point for Roman religion.

Theodosius I closes temples (393 CE)

Outlawing of pagan worship.

Reign of Justinian I (527-565 CE)

Byzantine emperor known for law code and reconquests.

Closure of gymnasiums (529 CE)

End of classical Greek athletic institutions.

Nika Riot (532 CE)

Massive chariot-racing riots in Constantinople.

Etruscans/Etruria

Ancient Italian culture influential on Rome, especially in ritual and spectacle.

Magna Graecia

Greek colonies in southern Italy and Sicily.

Rome

Capital city and center of Roman political and spectacular life.

Campania

Region known for amphitheaters, gladiatorial schools, and Pompeii.

Cerveteri/Veii

Etruscan cities important for early Italian culture.

Constantinople

Capital of Eastern Roman/Byzantine Empire.

Athens

Major Greek city-state, center of democracy and festivals.

Olympia

Site of the ancient Olympic Games.

Charun

Etruscan death demon associated with the underworld.

Jupiter Optimus Maximus

Highest Roman god; patron of triumphs.

Julius Caesar

Roman dictator known for political use of spectacle.

Cicero

Roman politician who opposed corrupt spectacle use.

Nobilior

Organizer of games restricted by the Senate.

Augustus

First emperor; reformed games for political stability.

Nero

Emperor known for excessive spectacles and the Domus Aurea.
blamed Christians for the fire of Rome, charges them for failure to worship Roman gods

Vespasian

Emperor who began construction of the Colosseum.

Adolf Hitler

Used the 1936 Olympics for propaganda.

Leni Riefenstahl

Filmmaker who portrayed athletes as idealized Greek figures.

Constantine

Christian emperor who restricted violent games.

Justinian

Byzantine emperor overseeing last phases of Roman spectacle.

Ludi

Public games sponsored by the state.

Ludi circenses

Circus games, mainly chariot racing.

Ludi scaenici

Theatrical performances as public entertainment.

Forum

Central public square used for politics and spectacle.

Triumph

Ceremonial military procession honoring a victorious general.

Munera

Privately funded gladiatorial games.

Lex

Law or legal measure.

Domus aurea

Nero's "Golden House" palace complex.

Vela

Awnings providing shade in arenas and theaters.

Maeniana

Tiered seating sections in Roman venues.

Venatio

Hunted animal spectacle.

Venator

Animal hunter/performer in the arena.

Vivarium

Animal holding and training facility.

Damnatio ad bestias

Execution of criminals by wild animals.

Crematio

Roman practice of cremation.

Naumachia

Staged naval battle.

Stagnum

Artificial basin used to stage naval shows.

Meridianii

Midday executions during arena programs.

Euripus (spina)

Center barrier in a circus track.

Pulvinar

Imperial or divine box/seating area.

Carceres

Starting gates for chariot races.

Metae

Turning posts in a racetrack.

Circus

Large venue for chariot racing.

Falx

Curved blade weapon used by certain gladiators.

Hippodrome

Greek/Byzantine racetrack for horses.

Alexander and sport

Alexander used Greek athletic ideals to project power and identity.

Use of Greek culture for legitimacy

Rulers adopted Greek imagery to bolster political authority.

Leni Riefenstahl's works

Films portraying idealized athleticism to promote Nazi ideology.

Nazi use of ancient Greece

Appropriation of Greek aesthetics to claim racial superiority.

Ancient religious behavior

Sacrifice, prayer, and ritual actions connecting humans and gods.

Roman law on violence

Laws designed to maintain order and control social hierarchy.

Roman spectacular punishments

Executions meant to deter, humiliate, and reinforce norms.

Purpose of punishments

Deterrence, vengeance, humiliation, gender reinforcement, and security.

Roman burial practices

Cremation, columbaria, inhumation, and commemorative markers.
Burial becomes a place to visit, remember the deceased

Games and office seeking

Officials used games to win votes and gain prestige.

Growth of games with expansion

Rome expanded spectacles as its empire and resources grew.