LATN 341 Spectacle and the Stage in Ancient Rome

The ancient Romans had a flair for the dramatic, creating spaces and staging performances which matched the grandness of their empire. Gladiatorial games, theatrical productions, chariot races, and other festivals played an integral role in the civic, religious, and cultural life of the ancient Romans. This course offers an introduction to the various forms of public entertainment offered during the Roman Republic and Empire. Students will read selections from ancient authors and consider modern theories about the gaze and spectatorship. In this language intensive course we will read selections from Seneca's Epistulae ad Lucilium as well as Horace's Satires.