FYS 251: Spectacles of Blood
ROMAN GLADIATORS & CHRISTIAN MARTYRS IN THE ARENA
Course
Description:
In this course we will try to answer the question, "Why did Romans like to watch people die?" We will study the games of the arena and the seminal, liminal figure of the gladiator, as well as the phenomenon of public torture and execution of Christians (and other criminals) in the arena and the seminal, liminal figure of the martyr. Readings will include primary sources (translated into English) describing the games and Christian persecutions and secondary literature on the arena in the form of books and articles.