The Oxford Handbook Sport and Spectacle in the Ancient World

Description

Sport and spectacle in the ancient world has become a vital area of broad new exploration over the last few decades. This Handbook brings together the latest research on Greek and Roman manifestations of these pastimes to explore current approaches and open exciting new avenues of inquiry. It discusses historical perspectives, contest forms, contest-related texts, civic and social aspects, and use and meaning of the individual body. Greek and Roman topics are interwoven to simulate contest-like tensions and complementarities, juxtaposing, for example, violence in Greek athletics and Roman gladiatorial events, Greek and Roman chariot events, architectural frameworks for contests and games in the two cultures, and contrasting views of religion, bodily regimens, and judicial classification related to both cultures. It examines the social contexts of games, namely the evolution of sport and spectacle across cultural and political boundaries, and how games are adapted to multiple contexts and multiple purposes, reinforcing social hierarchies, performing shared values, and playing out deep cultural tensions. The volume also considers other directing forces in the ancient Mediterranean, such as Bronze Age Egypt and the Near East, Etruria, and early Christianity. It addresses important themes common to both antiquity and modern society, such as issues of class, gender, and health, as well as the popular culture of the modern Olympics and gladiators in cinema. With innovative perspectives from authoratative scholars on a wide range of topics, this Handbook will appeal to both students and researchers interested in ancient history, literature, sports, and games. Cover The Oxford Handbook of Sport and Spectacle in the Ancient World Copyright Dedication Contents PART I INTRODUCTION 1. Overview and Approaches 2. Theories of Greek and Roman Sport PART II DEVELOPMENT IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE Section 1 Pre-​Greek Mediterranean 3. Sport in Ancient Egypt and the Ancient Near East 4. Sport and Spectacle in the Greek Bronze Age Section 2 Early Competitions and Events 5. Origins of the Olympics to the Sixth Century bce 6. Etruscan Events Section 3 Panhellenic Games and the Spread of the Tradition 7. The Greek Crown Games 8. The Panathenaia and Local Festivals 9. Patterns of Politics in Ancient Greek Athletics 10. Greek Festivals in the Hellenistic Era Section 4 Roman Games and Spectacles 11. Games in the Republic: Performance and Space 12. Theatre of Cruelty: Games of the Flavian Emperors 13. Greek Festivals in the Roman Era 14. Roman Games and Spectacle: Christian Identity and the Arena 15. The Decline and Fall of Spectacle PART III FORMS OF CONTESTS AND DISPLAY 16. Greek Footraces and Field Events 17. Greek Combat Sport and the Borders of Athletics, Violence, and Civilization 18. Gladiators 19. Greek Hippic Contests 20. Animal Events 21. Naval Events and Aquacades PART IV TEXTS, CONTEXTS, CONTESTS 22. Athletic Contests in Contexts of Epic and Other Related Archaic Texts 23. Epinikion, Kudos, and Criticism 24. Thematic Texts: Ovid, Martial, Tertullian 25. Contests in Context: Gladiatorial Inscriptions and Graffiti 26. Curse Tablets 27. Coins PART V CIVIC CONTEXTS Section 1​ Some Local Contests and Festivals 28. Sparta’s Contributions to Greek Sport 29. Imperial Spectacle in the Roman Provinces Section 2 Architecture of Games and Competitions 30. Greek Sanctuaries and Stadia 31. Gymnasium and Bath 32. The Colosseum 33. Circuses and Hippodromes 34. Combat Sports and Gladiatorial Combat in Greek and Roman Private Art 35. Athletic Images and the Monumentalization of Victory Section 4 Urban Contexts of Local Festivals 36. Local Festivals 37. Pompeii and Games 38. Gymnasium and Polis Section 5 Games and Community 39. Economic Aspects of Athletic Competition in the Archaic and Classical Age 40. ‘Professional’ Organizations in the Hellenistic World 41. Ludi and Factiones as Organizations of Performers 42. Animal Supply 43. Gladiators as a Class 44. Cult and Competition 45. Law, Litigation, and Sport in Ancient Greece 46. Spectatorship, Control, and Collective Groups PART VI BODY AND INDIVIDUAL Section 1 Health and Training 47. Too Much of a Good Thing: The Health of Olympic Athletes in Ancient Greece 48. Athletic Participation, Training, and Adolescent Education Section 2 Gender and Sexuality 49. Gender and Sexuality in Greek Sport 50. Sex in the Arena Index