Why read Theater and Spectacle in the Art of the Roman Empire?

Book cover of Theater and Spectacle in the Art of the Roman Empire

Book description

Theater, spectacle, and performance played significant roles in the political and social structure of the Roman Empire, which was diverse in population and language. A wide and varied range of entertainment was available to a Roman audience: the traditional festivals with their athletic contests and dramatic performances, pantomime and mime,…

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Why read it?

1 author picked Theater and Spectacle in the Art of the Roman Empire as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Maggie L. Popkin

Author

This lavishly illustrated book offers a visually stunning and information-packed tour of ancient Rome’s most popular forms of entertainment: chariot racing, gladiatorial combats, and theater performances. I was astonished by the sheer range and creativity of Roman spectacles and their material commemorations, from action figures of gladiators with removable helmets, piggy banks with pictures of lucky winning charioteers, and mosaic puzzles that challenged viewers to guess the names of famous racehorses based on visual clues. As an art historian, I particularly love the beautiful color illustrations; my own copy of this book is dog-eared because I am constantly returning to…

From Maggie's list on travel and leisure in ancient Rome.