Chapter XIX. The Public Games: the Theater,

the Circus, and the Amphitheater

317. Roman Festivals: Their Great Number 374

318. Passion for Public Spectacles: Mania for Gambling 375

319. Expenses of Public Spectacles to Great Officials 376

320. Indescribable Popularity of the Games 377

321. The Theater Less Popular than the Circus or Amphitheater 378

322. The Mimes: Character Plays 380

323. The Pantomimes: Their Real Art 381

324. Extreme Popularity of the Circus 382

325. Popular Charioteers (_Aurigæ_): the Great Racing Factions 383

326. The Circus Maximus 384

327. The Race-Track: Procession before the Races 384

328. Beginning a Race in the Circus 386

329. Perils of the Races; Proclaiming the Victors 386

330. Gladiatorial Contests Even More Popular than the Circus 389

331. Gladiator Fights at Funerals 390

332. Gladiator “Schools” (_Ludi_): Inmates Usually Criminals 390

333. Severe Training of Gladiators; Their Ephemeral Glory 392

334. Normal Arrangements for an Arena Contest 393

335. The Flavian Amphitheater (Later “Colosseum”) 394

336. Exterior and Ticket Entrances to the Flavian Amphitheater 396

337. Interior Arrangements of the Flavian 396

338. Procession of Gladiators 397

339. Throwing a Criminal to the Beasts. The Animal Hunt 398

340. Interval in the Contests: Scattering of Lottery Tickets 399

341. Beginning the Regular Gladiatorial Combats 401

342. Mounted Combats: the Signals for Ruthlessness and Mercy 403

343. Combats between Netters (_Retiarii_) and Heavy-Armed Warriors (“Thracians”) 404

344. End of the Combats: Rewarding the Victors 405