tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311913477714004905.post5441903355385858024..comments2023-10-24T08:01:04.647-04:00Comments on Pompeii: Antiquity's Great Ghost Town: Amphitheater of PompeiiNataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08848654681493416422noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311913477714004905.post-86541366367661011652012-04-15T14:38:57.974-04:002012-04-15T14:38:57.974-04:00An excellent post. There are many aspects of Pomp...An excellent post. There are many aspects of Pompeii that are unique and to some extent extraordinary, but it sadly is set aside by the common image of "oh, that Roman city that got buried in ash" mentality throughout the world. This remarkable amphitheater' status is yet a case of that. Thankfully, there is growing interest in it, as it truly serves as a window into how the past has shaped the future.<br /><br />It is interesting that you mention the training fields allocated near the amphitheater. I do ponder what would motivate a gladiator, in particular one that felt hopeless in his situation, to train in any way, if there was indeed training done for the gladiators. Besides the chance of being freed and wealth, there really was not much else to motivate a gladiator. As history has show us however, that has been enough for thousands to have participated. <br /><br />Of course, one can say the frantic fever installed in the crowds was also to account for the gladiator's situation. One can only imagine that support for the "blood sports" could only have fueled the hunt for more and more stronger prisoners to fight.<br /><br />Regarding the ten-year ban of events held at the Pompeii amphitheater, I do question how this was enforced. Sort of direct military occupation, how could one truly prevent some form of fighting from occurring in secret there? Perhaps the fear from the capital was so strong that it installed a sort of complete compliance from the citizens of Pompeii.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311913477714004905.post-89370938603123237892012-04-13T21:01:49.670-04:002012-04-13T21:01:49.670-04:00I've always been really into the Roman coliseu...I've always been really into the Roman coliseum so the amphitheater is also high up on my "to learn about" list. I found it very interesting that many of the same things went on in both arenas including the animal vs. human death matches. The thing that was most interesting to me though was the riots between the Pompeii and Nuceria; I would really like to know more about what caused it, how it broke up and exactly what happened to the people involved.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311913477714004905.post-65072138251258773342012-03-29T15:39:19.459-04:002012-03-29T15:39:19.459-04:00I had no idea that the first stone amphitheatre wa...I had no idea that the first stone amphitheatre was actually a spectacular, and that it was constructed in Pompeii. This makes the early cinema spectaculars make more sense, it follows a long tradition of the people going to sit and observe some sort of diversion. I wonder how sites like these influenced the construction of modern day theatres and stadiums. Parallels can of course be drawn to football, basketball, hockey, even soccer and swimming. Though not golf… which only makes sense.<br /><br />I find it interesting that the main draw of the gladiatorial games was to pit fighters against man and animals, but it was because of this spectacle that events were banned for ten years. Unfortunately, in the past, just as today, the spectators get too into the sport. I wonder what the first event was in the spectacular after it re-opened, was it another gladiatorial match, or was it something more diplomatic, such as a footrace or play.<br /><br />Overall, this is a very good post, I found it was informative and thought provoking. I look forward to future post topics and to see how this blog will be related to the in-class lecture. Pompeii proves itself to be quite the archeological marvel, part of the Roman Empire, a mixing port for various cultures, site of the first stone spectacular, ghost town, home to controversial artwork, and memorial to the wrath of Mount Vesuvius.Brandonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03429347410928508445noreply@blogger.com