Spectacle in the Roman World by Hazel Dodge
Feb 6, 2011
Stop for a moment, sit back, and dream of the Roman arena. Rows of armoured men standing on the sand before one man among thousands sitting expectantly around them, saluting him as their final hour approaches, in which they must fight for their llives, honour, glory, and the entertainment of the crowd. It is, without doubt, a compelling image, one that has sustained a genre of historical literature all of its own. In these moments of idle reflection I wonder how much of this image is dramatic license? Are we guilty of exaggerating the legend of the Roman arena to epic proportions…?
…read the full book review of Spectacle in the Roman World by Hazel Dodge