Public Spectacles in Ancient Rome

What were the Roman public spectacles and events called?

• Festivus

• Ludi

• Spectaculi

• Ludus

Which types of competitions were NOT termed ludi?

• Theatrical competitions

• Chariot races

• Gladiatorial contests

• Triumphal parades

What did the Romans often combine with gladiatorial contests?

• Chariot races

• Wild animal hunts

• Theatrical plays

• Religious rituals

Who often funded the public spectacles and events in Rome?

• The plebeians

• The emperors

• The aediles

• The senators

What was the purpose of Roman officials managing grand festivals and spectacles?

• To celebrate victories

• To honor the gods

• To win the favor of the populace

• To mark the beginning of the calendar year

What is the structure of Roman theaters?

• Enclosed rectangular spaces

• Free-standing, open-air structures

• Underground arenas

• Floating platforms

What was the purpose of the backdrop in Roman theaters?

• To protect the audience from the sun

• To represent whatever buildings or houses the play demanded

• To display the names of the actors

• To serve as a space for the orchestra

What was spread over some areas of Roman theaters to protect the spectators from the sun?

• Silk curtains

• Canvas awnings

• Marble slabs

• Wooden roofs

Who were the two of Rome's greatest writers of comedy mentioned in the text?

• Horace and Cicero

• Virgil and Ovid

• Plautus and Terence

• Livy and Tacitus

What was the seating capacity of the Circus Maximus according to the text?

• 150,000

• 200,000

• 250,000

• 300,000