The Day Commodus Killed a Rhino: Understanding the Roman Games (Witness to Ancient History)
(By Jerry Toner)
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Why did Roman rulers spend vast resources on such over-the-top displays--& why did some emperors appear in them as combatants? Why did the Roman rabble enjoy watching the slaughter of animals & the sight of men fighting to the death? How best can we in the modern world understand what was truly at stake in the circus & the arena? In "The Day Commodus Killed a Rhino," Jerry Toner set out to answer these questions by vividly describing what it would have been like to attend Commodus' fantastic shows & watch one of his many appearances as both hunter & fighter.
Highlighting the massive logistical effort needed to supply the games with animals, performers & criminals for execution, the book reveals how blood & gore were actually incidental to what really mattered. Gladiatorial games played a key role in establishing a forum for political debate between the rulers & the ruled. Roman crowds were not passive: they were made up of sophisticated consumers with their own political aims, which they used the games to secure. In addition, the games also served as a pure expression of what it meant to be a true Roman. Drawing on notions of personal honor, manly vigor & sophisticated craftsmanship, the games were a story that the Romans loved to tell themselves about themselves.
Prologue: The Rhino Dies
Commodus's Great Games
When in Commodiana
An Emperor Loves His People
Feeding the Monster
Win the Crowd
Strength & Honor: How to be a Roman
Fighting Back
Acknowledgments
Suggested Further Reading
Index”
