FYS 251- SPECTACLES OF BLOOD!
Roman Gladiators and Christian Martyrs
FALL 2001
BATES COLLEGE
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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.
This is a writing intensive course and students will write and rewrite
several short papers as well as edit the papers of fellow students.
Class meets on MWF from 12:05 to 1:00 pm in Pettengill 151.
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