... Romans demanded of their emperors, if we are to believe the satirist Lucian. For more than five hundred years spectacular events in amphitheatres, circuses and theatres were the most important leisure activities of the masses throughout the Roman empire. Bronze gladiator's helmet Gladiatorial games (munera) were originally performed at funerary Roman, 1st century AD rituals in the Etruscan area of Italy and the Greek cities in the ... shows, came to occupy more than half the year. Comedies, tragedies, pantomimes and rude folk plays were staged in the theatres; in the arena of the Colosseu...

• Word Count: 1481
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography