Spectacles in the Roman Empire (athletic competitions, scenic games, gladiatorial fights, and circus races) brought together generally heterogeneous crowds including, among others, magistrates, senators, knights, plebeians, slaves, women, and children. But did all layers of Roman society have easy access to the spectator stands? Did they experience these entertainments under the same conditions? Did they respond to them with the same emotions and sensations? To what extent did the composition of the provincial public differ from those of Rome? These are the central questions raised by the authors of this book who answer them by drawing upon all the available sources of evidence: graffiti, inscriptions, literature, iconography, and archaeological finds. Each contribution investigates different categories of the public and produces a finer and more nuanced understanding of Roman spectators and their diverse reception of the performances in Antiquity.

This book is included in DOAB.