Stage 33 Culture Quiz

Games were held for which of the following reasons:

• to honor the gods

• to celebrate military victories

• to remember national catastrophes e.g. Hannibal's invasion

• to dissolve the class structure

At the time of Domitian, formal plays were immensely popular.

• True.

• False: short, comedic plays were preferred

• False: no plays were put on during Domitian's reign

• False: pantomimes had taken the place of drama

Pantomimes were:

• silent actors who performed tragedies or famous myths to musical accompaniment

• silent actors who performed slapstick farces of everyday life with other actors

• traditional actors who performed plays in the traditional Greek style

• none of the above

The ludi circenses were: (check all that apply)

• chariot races

• gladitorial shows

• a competition between 8 teams

• held on the last day of the ludi

A mappa was: (Mark all which are true)

• It was a napkin

• It was a map of the whole Roman Empire

• It was dropped to start a chariot race

• It was used to mop the brow of Emperor Domitian

The spina and meta were (respectively)

• The central platform in the circus and the turning point of the race.

• The Latin name for a backbone and tail bone.

• Lowered to count the laps in a race.

• The names of two of the factiones, or racing teams.

Marble or wooden eggs were lowered to mark the laps in each chariot race.

• True

• False: mappae were used to mark each lap

• False: It was not necessary to count the laps, because there was only one lap each race.

• False: Actual ostrich eggs were used to mark each lap.

Mark all that are TRUE about chariot races

• There were multiple races in a day's program, usually 24 races

• There were 7 laps per race

• Chariot racing was dangerous, and could even result in death for the drivers

• Chariot racing took little skill, so most of the racing was done by amateur racers.

munera were: (check all that apply)

• chariot races

• gladiatorial shows

• theatrical performances

• originally part of the rites owed to the dead

During the imperial period, which of the following might be a part of the munera? (check all that apply)

• hunting animals

• condemned criminals fighting

• professional gladiators fighting

• naval battles