Ludi Plebeii: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Ancient Roman religious festival}} |
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The '''Plebeian Games''' (Latin '''''Ludi Plebeii''''') were an [[ancient Rome|ancient Roman]] [[Roman festival|religious festival]] held November 4–17.<ref>Dates according to ''[[Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum|CIL]]'' i<sup>2</sup> 335.</ref> The games ''([[ludi]])'' included both theatrical performances ''([[ludi scaenici]])'' and athletic competitions for the purpose of entertaining the common people of Rome. |
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== History == |
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The '''Ludi Plebeii''' ("Plebeian Games;" see ''[[Ludi]]'') were a religious festival held in [[ancient Rome]] in the middle of November, originally from 16–18 November. |
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The Plebeian Games may have been celebrated among the common people without an official place on the [[Roman calendar|religious calendar]] until [[nobiles|plebeians rose to positions of highest prominence]]; [[Cicero]], at least, thought they were Rome's oldest ''ludi''.<ref>[[Cicero]], ''[[In Verrem]]'' II.5.36</ref> They are known to have been held each year from 220 onward,<ref>[[Jörg Rüpke]], "Communicating with the Gods," in ''A Companion to the Roman Republic'' (Blackwell, 2010), p. 225.</ref> but may have been much older.<ref name=":0" /> It may be most accurate to say the ''Ludi Plebeii'' were first established as a public festival in 220 BC.<ref>[[William Warde Fowler]], ''The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic'' (London, 1908), p. 252.</ref> Because the proceedings of the Plebeian Games strikingly resemble those of the [[Ludi Romani|''Ludi Romani'' ("Roman Games")]], [[T.P. Wiseman]] has suggested that they were created by the ''plebs'' as an assertion of their own identity, perhaps as early as the 5th or 4th century BC.<ref>[[T.P. Wiseman]], ''Remus: A Roman Myth'' (Cambridge University Press, 1995), p. 134.</ref> |
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==Purpose== |
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The ''Ludi Plebeii'' were presented by the [[plebeian aedile]]s and celebrated plebeian political liberty, but tradition varied as to freedom from what: either the [[kings of Rome|tyranny of the Tarquins]] in the [[Roman kingdom|Regal period]], or the dominance of the [[Patrician (ancient Rome)|patricians]], the hereditary ruling class of early [[Roman Republic|Republican Rome]] (see "[[Conflict of the Orders]]").<ref>[[T.P. Wiseman]], "The Games of Hercules," in ''Religion in Archaic Republican Rome and Italy: Evidence and Experience'' (Edinburgh University Press, 2000), p. 112. A [[scholiast]] to [[Cicero]] offers both causes.</ref> |
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==Timing and location== |
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According to one ancient source, the games were held in the [[Circus Flaminius]], which was associated with the common people of Rome ''([[plebs]])''.<ref name=":0">P.J. Davis, "Games," in ''Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece and Rome'' (Oxford University Press, 2010), p. 266.</ref> Nearly all other games were held in the [[Circus Maximus]]. The Circus Flaminius was built by the [[plebs|plebeian]] [[Roman censor|censor]] [[Gaius Flaminius (consul 223 BC)|Gaius Flaminius]] in 220 BC, and the annual games may have been instituted by him that year.<ref name=":0" /> During the festival, a [[Epulum Jovis|feast of Jupiter ''(Epulum Iovis)'']] was held November 13, a cavalry parade November 14, and circus games ''([[ludi circenses]]'', mainly [[chariot races]]) November 15–17. The siting of the games at the Circus Flaminius may thus be an error,<ref>[[Valerius Maximus]] 1.7.4.</ref> since the Circus Flaminius had no track for chariot racing.<ref>Wiseman, ''Remus'', p. 211.</ref> A [[Pompa circensis|procession]] similar to that of the ''Ludi Romani'' is likely also to have been part of the festivities. |
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==Miscellanea== |
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{{AncientRome-stub}} |
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[[Plautus]] first presented his comedy ''[[Stichus]]'' at the Plebeian Games of 200 BC.<ref name=":0" /> |
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[[Livy]] notes that the ''ludi'' had to be repeated three times in 216 BC, owing to a ''[[Glossary of ancient Roman religion#vitium|vitium]]'' (ritual fault) that disrupted the correct performance of events.<ref name=":0" /> |
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[[fr:Ludi Plebeii]] |
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==See also== |
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* [[Conflict of the Orders]] |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist|30em}} |
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{{Roman religion (festival)}} |
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[[Category:November observances]] |
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[[Category:3rd-century BC establishments]] |
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Latest revision as of 07:07, 14 May 2024
The Plebeian Games (Latin Ludi Plebeii) were an ancient Roman religious festival held November 4–17.[1] The games (ludi) included both theatrical performances (ludi scaenici) and athletic competitions for the purpose of entertaining the common people of Rome.
History
[edit]The Plebeian Games may have been celebrated among the common people without an official place on the religious calendar until plebeians rose to positions of highest prominence; Cicero, at least, thought they were Rome's oldest ludi.[2] They are known to have been held each year from 220 onward,[3] but may have been much older.[4] It may be most accurate to say the Ludi Plebeii were first established as a public festival in 220 BC.[5] Because the proceedings of the Plebeian Games strikingly resemble those of the Ludi Romani ("Roman Games"), T.P. Wiseman has suggested that they were created by the plebs as an assertion of their own identity, perhaps as early as the 5th or 4th century BC.[6]
Purpose
[edit]The Ludi Plebeii were presented by the plebeian aediles and celebrated plebeian political liberty, but tradition varied as to freedom from what: either the tyranny of the Tarquins in the Regal period, or the dominance of the patricians, the hereditary ruling class of early Republican Rome (see "Conflict of the Orders").[7]
Timing and location
[edit]According to one ancient source, the games were held in the Circus Flaminius, which was associated with the common people of Rome (plebs).[4] Nearly all other games were held in the Circus Maximus. The Circus Flaminius was built by the plebeian censor Gaius Flaminius in 220 BC, and the annual games may have been instituted by him that year.[4] During the festival, a feast of Jupiter (Epulum Iovis) was held November 13, a cavalry parade November 14, and circus games (ludi circenses, mainly chariot races) November 15–17. The siting of the games at the Circus Flaminius may thus be an error,[8] since the Circus Flaminius had no track for chariot racing.[9] A procession similar to that of the Ludi Romani is likely also to have been part of the festivities.
Miscellanea
[edit]Plautus first presented his comedy Stichus at the Plebeian Games of 200 BC.[4]
Livy notes that the ludi had to be repeated three times in 216 BC, owing to a vitium (ritual fault) that disrupted the correct performance of events.[4]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Dates according to CIL i2 335.
- ^ Cicero, In Verrem II.5.36
- ^ Jörg Rüpke, "Communicating with the Gods," in A Companion to the Roman Republic (Blackwell, 2010), p. 225.
- ^ a b c d e P.J. Davis, "Games," in Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece and Rome (Oxford University Press, 2010), p. 266.
- ^ William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908), p. 252.
- ^ T.P. Wiseman, Remus: A Roman Myth (Cambridge University Press, 1995), p. 134.
- ^ T.P. Wiseman, "The Games of Hercules," in Religion in Archaic Republican Rome and Italy: Evidence and Experience (Edinburgh University Press, 2000), p. 112. A scholiast to Cicero offers both causes.
- ^ Valerius Maximus 1.7.4.
- ^ Wiseman, Remus, p. 211.