Most of the pictures are mine. For the info I
have largely used the following:
BASIC BIBLIOGRAPHY
AA.VV.- Anfiteatro Flavio - Immagine Testimonianze Spettacoli - Quasar,
1988
AA.VV. - Sangue e Arena (catalogo della mostra) - Ministero Beni Culturali -
Soprintendenza Archeologica di Roma, - Electa, 2001.
Abbondanza, L., The Valley of the Colosseum; Soprintendenza Archeologica di Roma,
1997.
Bosi, R., Il Grande Libro di Roma, Arnoldo Mondadori, 1988
Cozzo, G., Il Colosseo. L'anfiteatro Flavio nella tecnica edilizia, nella storia delle
strutture, nel concetto esecutivo dei lavori, Rome, Palombi, 1971;
Lanciani, R., Rovine e scavi di Roma antica; Quasar, 1985
Lugli, G., The Flavian Amphitheatre; Giovanni Bardi, Italy, 1971.
Luciani, R., Il Colosseo, Istituto Geografico De Agostini, 1993;
Cornell, T. Matthews, J.: Atlante del Mondo Romano, Istituto Geografico De
Agostini, 1982;
AA.VV.: Frondose Arcate Il colosseo prima dellarcheologia (catalogo della
mostra) - Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali - Soprintendenza Archeologica di
Roma, Electa, 2000;
Giuliani, C. F., Ledilizia nellantichità, La Nuova Italia Scientifica, 1990;
Auguet, R., Cruelty and Civilization -The Roman Games, Routledge, 1994.
Touring Club Italiano, Roma e Dintorni, TCI 1977
SPQR - Comune di Roma; Roma Sotterranea; a cura di Roberto Luciani; Fratelli Palombi
Editori Roma Cataloghi, 1985
Sabbatini Tumolesi, P., Epigrafia Anfiteatrale dell'Occidente Romano (Vol. I - Roma) -
Quasar, 1988.
ONLINE:
An interesting essay by CJ Lyes on the Political and Architectural Significance of the Colosseum.
An essay on "Public Spectacles And Roman Social Relations, by Jonathan Edmondson (York University, Toronto, Canada)
A paper by Monika Mickutë on architectural aspects.
ADVANCED BIBLIOGRAPHY
If you want to keep on studying, I recommend these sources:
ALFÖLDY (Géza), " Eine Bauinschrift aus dem Colosseum ", ZPE, 109, 1995, pp.
195-226.
BULIAN (G.), " Resine epossidiche per il consolidamento di sei pilastri
dell'anfiteatro flavio " , L'industria tecnica delle costruzioni, A. N. C. E, 1980,
n° 99, pp. 13-24.
COARELLI (Filippo), Guide archéologique de Rome, Paris, Hachette, 1998 (1980), pp.
131-135.
COLAGROSSI (P.), L'Anfiteatro Flavio nei suo venti secoli di storia, Florence, Libreria
editrice fiorentina, 1913.
CONFORTO (Maria Letizia), DIEBNER (S.), GHINI (Guiseppina), NISTA (L.), PAPARATTI (E.),
PARIS (R.), PENSABENE (Patrizio), REA (R.), REGGIANI (Anna Maria), SABBATINI TUMOLESI
(P.), Anfiteatro Flavio : imagine, testimonianze, spettacoli, Rome, Quasar, 1988.
COZZO (Giuseppe), Ingegneria romana : maestranze romane, strutture preromane, , strutture
romane, le costruzioni dell'anfiteatro Flavio, del Pantheon, dell'emissario del Fucino,
Rome, Multigrafica, 1970 (Reprod. en fac-sim. de l'éd. de Rome, 1928), pp. 203-253.
GIOVANNONI (G.), " La zona del Colosseo ed il suo aspetto definitivo ",
Capitolium, 1937, pp. 202-210.
HOMO (Léon), Lexique de topographie romaine, Paris, C. Klincksieck, 1900, pp. 10-16.
JOKILEHTO (Jukka Ilmari), A History of Architectural Conservation, 1986, D. Phil.
Thesis, I.A.A.S., York (available online here)
LANCIANI (Rodolfo) The ruins & excavations of ancient Rome, London 1897.
LUGLI (Giuseppe), Roma Antica. Il centro monumentale, Rome, Bardi, 1946, pp. 319-346.
MACCO (Michela Di), Il Colosseo : funzione simbolica, storica, urbana, Rome, Bulzoni,
1971.
MANODORI (Alberto), Anfiteatri,circhi e stadi di Roma : i piu suggestivi monumenti
dell'antichita rivivono tra storia e leggenda in spettacoli di sangue e di gloria : dai
giochi dei gladiatori alle naumachie alle lotte con le belve, Rome, Newton Compton, 1982,
pp. 75-110.
MOCCHEGIANI CARPANO (Claudio), LUCIANI (R.), " I restauri dell'Anfiteatro
Flavio ", RIA, 4, 1981, pp. 9-69.
MOCCHEGIANI CARPANO (Claudio), " Interventi nell'Anfiteatro Flavio ", Roma,
Archeologia nel centro, I : L'area archeologica centrale, 1985, pp. 122-124..
NASH (Ernest), Pictorial Dictionary of Ancient Rome, Londres, Thames and Hudson, 1968, 2
vol, tome 1, pp. 17-25.
PARKER (John Henry ), The Flavian amphitheater, Oxford, 1996.
PASCOLINI (Aldo), Il Colosseo, Rome, Armando, 1979.
PEARSON (J.), " Arena. The story of the Colosseum ", BSEAA, 48, 1977, pp.
521-522.
PLATNER (Samuel Ball), ASHBY (Thomas), A Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome, Rome,
l'ERMA, 1965, (1ere édition Oxford-Londres, Oxford University Press, 1929), pp. 6-11.
QUENNELL, Peter. The Colosseum; Nesweek, New York, 1971.
REA, R., Il Colosseo e la valle da Teodorico ai Frangipane: note di studio
RICHARDSON (Lawrence Jr.), A new topographical dictionary of ancient Rome,
Baltimore, John Hopkins University Press, 1992 (1ere édition Oxford-Londres 1929), pp.
7-10.
RODOCANACHI (Emmanuel Pierre), Les Monuments antiques de Rome encore existants : les
ponts, les murs, les voies, les enceintes de Rome, les palais, les temples, les arcs,
Paris, Hachette, 1920, pp. 120-138.
SABLAYROLLES (Robert), " Le Colisée brûle-t-il? ", Spectacula I, Actes du
Colloque tenu à Toulouse et Lattes du 26 au 29 mai 1987, éd. par DOMERGUE Claude, LANDES
Christian et PAILLER Jean-Marie, 1990, pp. 129-134.
SPINAZZOLA (Vittorio), L'Anfiteatro Flavio. Storia degli scavi ed ultime scoperte
(1590-1895), Naples, R. Marghieri, 1907.
SUETONIUS, edited by Gavorse, Joseph. The Lives of the Twelve Caesars; Random House, New
York, 1931.
WELLS, J. and BARROW, R.H. A Short History of the Roman Empire to the Death of Marcus
Aurelius; Barnes and Noble, New York,1931
CLASSIC LITERARY SOURCES ON THE FLAVIAN AMPHITHEATRE:
The following is a list of the ancient literary sources on the Colosseum
(mostly from R. Rea - Anfiteatro Flavio Quasar, 1988)
The list is, according to latest studies (1999), complete, and the modern help of
computerized research on text data base performed by University institutes did not produce
any addition to the results of a previous work by M. Panvini Cotellessa, care of G.
Lugli (cited by F. Consalvi, in Disegnare)
I have added more sources which are not strictly specific to the Colosseum.
l. CHRONOGR. a 354: Hic (Vespasianus) prior
tribus gradibus amphiteatrum dedicavit.
2. CHRONOGR. a. 354: Hic (Titus) amphitheatro a tribus gradibus patris sui duos
adiecit.
3. CHRONOGR. a. 354: Domitianus imperavit annos XVII, menses V. dies V. Hoc imperante
multae operae publicae fabricatae sunt; atria VII, horrea piperataria, ubi modo est
basilica Constantiniana et horrea Vespastani, templum Castorum et Minervae, portam
Capenam, gentem Flaviam, Divorum, Iseum et Serapeum, Minervam Chalcidicam, Odeum, Minuciam
veterem, Stadium, et thermas Titianas et Traianas, Amphiteatrum usque ad clypea, templum
Vespasiani et Titi, Capitolium, Senatum, ludos IIII, Palatium, Metam Sudantem et Panteum.
4a. SVET., De Vita Ceasarum, Vesp. XI,1: Fecit et nova opera
templum Pacis Foro proximum Divique Claudi in Caelio monte coeptum quidem ab Agrippina,
sed a Nerone prope funditus desctructum; item amphitheatrum urbe media, ut destinasse
comperat Augustum.
4b. SVET., De Vita Ceasarum, Tit., VII,3: Et tamen nemine ante se munificentia minor,
amphitheatro dedicato thermisque tuxta celeriter exstructis munus edidit apparatissimum
largissimunque; dedit et navale proeilum in veteri naumachia, ibidem et gladiatores atque
uno die quinque milia omne genus ferarum.
4c. SVET., De Vita Ceasarum, Dom., IV,1: Spectacula assidue magnifica et
sumptuosa edidit non in amphitheatro modo, verum et in circo, ubi ... ; at in amphitheatro
navale quoque.
IDEM, IV, 2. Edidit navalis pugnas paene iustarum classium, effosso et circumstructo
iuxta Tiberim lacu, atque inter maximas imbres perspectavit. Fecit et ludos Saeculares.
IDEM, V. Novam autem excitavit aedem in Capitolo Custodi Iovi et forum quod nunc
Nervae vocatur, item Flaviae templum gentis et stadium et odium et naumachiam, e cuius
postea lapide maximus circus deustis utrimque lateribus extructus est.
5. DIO CASSIUS, LXVI, 25
Most that he did was not characterised by anything noteworthy, but
in dedicating the hunting-theatre and the baths that bear his name, he produced many
remarkable spectacles. There was a battle between cranes and also between four elephants;
animals both tame and wild were slain to the number of nine thousand; and women (not those
of any prominence, however) took part in despatching them. 2.As for the men, several
fought in single combat and several groups contended together both in infantry and naval
battles. For Titus suddenly filled this same theatre with water and brought in horses and
bulls and some other domesticated animals that had been taught to behave in the liquid
element just as on land. 3. He also brought in people on ships, who engaged in a sea-fight
there, impersonating the Corcyreans and Corinthians; and others gave a similar exhibition
outside the city in the grove of Gaius and Lucius, a place which Augustus had once
excavated for this very purpose. There, too, on the first day there was a gladiatorial
exhibition and wild-beast hunt, the lake in front of the images having first been covered
over with a platform of planks and wooden stands erected around it. 4. On the second day
there was a horse-race, and on the third day a naval battle between three thousand men,
followed by an infantry battle. The "Athenians" conquered the
"Syracusans" (these were the names the combatants used), made a landing on the
islet and assaulted and captured a wall that had been constructed around the monument.
These were the spectacles that were offered, and they continued for a hundred days; but
Titus also furnished some things that were of practical use to the people. 5He would throw
down into the theatre from aloft little wooden balls variously inscribed, one designating
some article of food, another clothing, another a silver vessel or perhaps a gold one, or
again horses, pack-animals, cattle or slaves. Those who seized them were to carry them to
the dispensers of the bounty, from whom they would receive the article named.
6. ACTA FRATRUM ARVALIUM, anno 80
d.C.; C.I.L. VI, 1, 2059.
Loca adsignata in amphit(H)eatro. / L. Aelio Plautio Lamia, Q. Pactumeio Fr(o)ntone
cos., / acceptum ab Laberio Maximo, procuratore, praef(ecto) annonae, / L. Vennuleio
Apronano (sic) mag(istro), curatore Thyrso l(iberto) / fratribus Arvalibus maeniano I
cun(eo) XII, gradib(us) marmo(oreis) VIII; gradu 1 p(edes) V/ (quadrantem, semunciam,
sicilicum), f(iunt) ped(es) XXXXII (semis); [[gradu I uno p(edes) XXII (semis);]] et
m(a)eniano [[summo]] II / cun(eo) VI gradib(us) marm(oreis) IV, gradu I uno p(edes)
XX[[II]] (semis); et maeniano / summo in ligneis tab(ulatione) LIII, gradibus XI, gradu I
ped(es) V, (trientem, semunciam) grad(u) XI ped(es) V (semissem, uncias quinque,
sicilicum), f(iunt) ped(es) LXIII (semis) (unciae quinque semunci); summa ped(es) CXXVIII
(semis unciae quinque, semuncia).
7. EUTROP., VII 21, 4: Hic (Titus) Romae amphiteatrum aedificavit et quinque milia ferarum in dedicatione eius occidit.
AUR. VICT.,
De Caes. 10, 5 : Ita biennio post ac menses fere novem amphiteatri Perfecto opere
lautusque veneno interiit (Titus)...
Idem, 9,7: Namque Romae Capitolium, quod conflagravisse supra memoravimus, aedes
Pacis, Claudii monumenta, amphitheatri tanta vis, multaque alia ac forum coepta seu
patrata.
HIERON., Chron p. 189 (anno p.C. 79): Titus amphitheatrum Romac aedificat...
CASSIOD., Var. V, 425: Maximo v.i. consuli Theodericus rex .... :
Hoc Titi potentia principalis, divitiarum profuso lumine, cogitavit aedificium fieri, unde
caput urbium potuisset.
IDEM, Chron. (M.G.H., A.A. XI, p. 139, 711-712) (anno p. c. 83): Domitianus II et
Rufus II. His conss. Titus amphitheatrum Romae aedificavit et in dedicatione eius V milia
ferarum occidet.
PROSP., Chron (M. G. H., A. A. IX, p. 416, 495-496): Domitiano IIII et Rufo (coss). Titus amphitheatrum Romae aedificavit et in dedicatione eius V milla ferarum occidit.
BEDA, Chron. maiora (M. G. H., A. A. XIII, p. 285, 300): Hic (Titus) amphitheatrum Romae aedificat et in dedicatione eius V milia ferarum occidit.
8. M. VALERIUS MARTIALIS, De Spectaculis, I (for the whole poem
click here):
Barbara pyramidum sileat miracula Memphis,
Assiduus jactet nec Babylona labor.
Nec Triviæ Templo molles laudentur honores,
Dissimuletque Deum cornibus ara frequens.
Aere nec vacuo pendentia Mausolea
Laudibus immodicis Cares in astra ferant.
Omnis Cæsareo cedat labor Amphiteatro:
Unum pro cunctis Fama loquatur opus.
IDEM, De Spectaculis, II (for the whole poem click here):
Hic ubi sidereus propius videt astra colossus
et crescunt media pegmata celsa via,
invidiosa feri radiabant atria regis
unaque iam tota stabat in urbe domus.
Hic ubi conspicui venerabilis amphitheatri
erigitur moles, stagna Neronis erant.
Hic ubi miramur velocia numera thermas,
abstulerat miseris tecta superbus ager.
Claudia diffusas ubi porticus explicat umbras,
ultima pars aulae deficientis erat.
Reddita Roma sibi est et sunt te praeside, Caesar,
deliciae populi, quae fuerant domini.
IDEM, De Spectaculis, XXX (XXVIII):
Augusti labor hic fuerat committere classes
et freta navali sollicitare tuba.
Caesaris haec nostri pars est quota? vidit in undis et Thetis
ignotas et Galatea feras;
vidit in aequoreo ferventes pulvere currus
et domini Triton isse putavit equos:
dumque parat saevis ratibus fera proelia Nereus,
horruit in liquidis ire pedestris aquis.
Quidquid et in circo spectatur et amphitheatro,
dives Caesarea praestitit unda tibi.
Fucinus et diri taceantur stagna Neronis:
hanc norint unam saecula naumachiam.
9a. HIER, Chron., p. 191: multa opera Romae facta, in quis ... Ludus Matutinus, Mica Aurea, Meta Sudans ..
9b. PROSP., Chron.: Multa opera Rornae facta, in quis Capitolium... Meta Sudans..
9c. CASSIOD., His. (Domitiano X117I et Clemente II) conss. insignissima Romae facta sunt, id est Meta Sudans..
10. AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS, Rerum Gestarum Libri 16.10.14 (ca. A.D.
380):
Non enim, ut per civitates alias, ad arbitrium suum certamina finiri patiebatur, sed
ut mos est variis casibus permittebat. Deinde intra septem montium culmina per
adclivitates planitiemque posita urbis membra conlustrans et suburbana, quicquid viderat
primum, id eminere inter alia cuncta sperabat: Iovis Tarpei delubra, quantum terrenis
divina praecellunt: lauacra in modum provinciarum extructa: amphitheatri molem solidatam
lapidis Tiburtini compage, ad cuius summitatem aegre visio humana conscendit: Pantheum
velut regionem teretem speciosa celsitudine fornicatam: elatosque vertices scansili
suggestu consulum et priorum principum imitamenta portantes, et Urbis templum forumque
Pacis et Pompei theatrum et Odeum et Stadium aliaque inter haec decora urbis aeternae.
Here is a translation:
He did not, for example, as he did in other cities, allow the length of the combats to
depend on his own will, but followed the local custom and left them to finish in their
various ways as events dictated.When he surveyed the different regions of the city and its
environs, lying along the slopes and on level ground within the circle of the seven hills,
it seemed to him that whatever his eye first lit on took the palm. It might be the shrine
of Tarpeian Jupiter, beside which all else is like earth compared to heaven, or the
buildings of the baths as big as provinces, or the solid mass of stone from Tibur that
forms the amphitheater, with its top almost beyond the reach of human sight, or the
Pantheon spread like a self-contained district under its high and lovely dome, or the
lofty columns with spiral stairs to platforms which support the statues of former
emperors, or the temple of Rome, or the Forum of Peace, the theater of Pompeius or the
Odeum of the Stadium, or any one of the other sights of the Eternal City. (W. Hamilton,
trans.)
11. Venantius Basilius' inscription commemorates the works that
the Praefectus Urbi Decius Marius Venantius Basilius had had done - at his own expense
- to repair the arena and the podium, damaged by an "abominandus"
earthquake.
| THE TEXT | THE TRANSLATION |
Decius Marius Venantius |
DECIMUS MARIUS VENANTIUS |
12. VALERIUS MAXIMUS
FACTORVM ET DICTORVM MEMORABILIVM LIBRI NOVEM
4.5.1 Sed ut a laudibus eius ad facta ueniamus, a condita urbe usque ad Africanum et
Ti. Longum consules promiscuus senatui et populo spectandorum ludorum locus erat. numquam
tamen quisquam ex plebe ante patres conscriptos in theatro spectare sus tinuit: adeo
circumspecta ciuitatis nostrae uerecundia fuit. quae quidem certissimum sui documentum
etiam illo die exhibuit, quo L. Flamininus extrema in parte theatri constitit, quia a M.
Catone et L. Flacco censoribus senatu m<otus> fuerat, consulatus iam honore
defunctus, frater etiam T. Flaminini Macedoniae Philippique uictoris: omnes enim transire
eum in locum dignitati suae debitum coegerunt.
13. CIL 06, 00955 (p 3070, 3777, 4309)
Imp(eratori) Caesari / divi Nervae f(ilio) / Nervae Traiano / Aug(usto) Germanico /
Dacico pontifici / maximo tribunic(ia) / pot(estate) VII imp(eratori) IIII co(n)s(uli) V
p(atri) p(atriae) / tribus XXXV / quod liberalitate / Optimi principis / commoda earum
etiam / locorum adiectione / ampliata sint
Francesco Petrarca wrote in letter about the 1349
earthquake:
"... cecidit aedificiorum veterum neglecta civibus, stupenda peregrinis
moles" (the massive building that so amazes the pilgrims fell among the old
houses abandoned by the citizens)
LITERARY SOURCES ON AMPHITHEATRES:
Arch of Titus: CIL 6.944 for the dedicatory inscription, which reveals that the structure
was dedicated after Titus' death.
Petronius Arbiter - Satyricon, XLV:
Oro te, inquit Echion centonarius, melius loquere. 'Modo sic, modo sic', inquit
rusticus: varium porcum perdiderat. Quod hodie non est, cras erit: sic vita truditur. Non
mehercules patria melior dici potest, si homines haberet. Sed laborat hoc tempore, nec
haec sola. Non debemus delicati esse; ubique medius caelus est. Tu si aliubi fueris, dices
hic porcos coctos ambulare. Et ecce habituri sumus munus excellente in triduo die festa;
familia non lanisticia, sed plurimi liberti. Et Titus noster magnum animum habet, et est
caldicerebrius. Aut hoc aut illud erit, quid utique. Nam illi domesticus sum, non est
miscix. Ferrum optimum daturus est, sine fuga, carnarium in medio, ut amphitheater videat.
Et habet unde. Relictum est illi sestertium tricenties: decessit illius pater male. Vt
quadringenta impendat, non sentiet patrimonium illius, et sempiterno nominabitur. Iam
Manios aliquot habet et mulierem essedariam et dispensatorem Glyconis, qui deprehensus est
cum dominam suam delectaretur. Videbis populi rixam inter zelot et amasiunculos. Glyco
autem, sestertiarius homo, dispensatorem ad bestias dedit. Hoc est se ipsum traducere.
Quid servus peccavit, qui coactus est facere? Magis illa matella digna fuit quam taurus
iactaret. Sed qui asinum non potest, stratum caedit. Quid autem Glyco putabat Hermogenis
filicem unquam bonum exitum facturam? Ille miluo volanti poterat ungues resecare; colubra
restem non parit. Glyco, Glyco dedit suas; itaque quamdiu vixerit, habebit stigmam, nec
illam nisi Orcus delebit. Sed sibi quisque peccat. Sed subolfacio quia nobis epulum
daturus est Mammaea, binos denarios mihi et meis. Quod si hoc fecerit, eripiat Norbano
totum favorem. Scias oportet plenis velis hunc vinciturum. Et revera, quid ille nobis boni
fecit? Dedit gladiatores sestertiarios iam decrepitos, quos si sufflasses, cecidissent;
iam meliores bestiarios vidi. Occidit de lucerna equites; putares eos gallos gallinaceos:
alter burdubasta, alter loripes, tertiarius mortuus pro mortuo, qui haberet nervia
praecisa. Vnus licuius flaturae fuit Thraex, qui et ipse ad dictata pugnavit. Ad summam,
omnes postea secti sunt; adeo de magna turba 'Adhibete' acceperant: plane fugae merae.
'Munus tamen, inquit, tibi dedi -- et ego tibi plodo.' Computa, et tibi plus do quam
accepi. Manus manum lavat.
LUCIUS ANNAEUS SENECA (About 4BC -
65 AD)- Epistulae morales ad Lucilium - a collection of
124 letters dealing with moral issues, written to his friend Lucilius.
Epistula VII. SENECA LUCILIO SUO SALUTEM
Casu in meridianum spectaculum incidi, lusus exspectans et sales et aliquid laxamenti quo
hominum oculi ab humano cruore acquiescant. Contra est: quidquid ante pugnatum est
misericordia fuit; nunc omissis nugis mera homicidia sunt. Nihil habent quo tegantur; ad
ictum totis corporibus ex positi numquam frustra manum mittunt. [4] Hoc plerique
ordinariis paribus et postulaticiis praeferunt. Quidni praeferant? non galea, non scuto
repellitur ferrum. Quo munimenta? quo artes? omnia ista mortis morae sunt. Mane leonibus
et ursis homines, meridie spectatoribus suis obiciuntur. Interfectores interfecturis
iubent obici et victorem in aliam detinent caedem; exitus pugnantium mors est. Ferro et
igne res geritur. [5] Haec fiunt dum vacat harena. 'Sed latrocinium fecit aliquis, occidit
hominem.' Quid ergo? quia occidit, ille meruit ut hoc pateretur: tu quid meruisti miser ut
hoc spectes? 'Occide, verbera, ure! Quare tam timide incurrit in ferrum? quare parum
audacter occidit? quare parum libenter moritur? Plagis agatur in vulnera, mutuos ictus
nudis et obviis pectoribus excipiant.' Intermissum est spectaculum: 'interim iugulentur
homines, ne nihil agatur'. Age, ne hoc quidem intellegitis, mala exempla in eos redundare
qui faciunt? Agite dis immortalibus gratias quod eum docetis esse crudelem qui non potest
discere.
Pliny the Elder on the invention of the amphitheatres (Historia Naturalis, Mayhoff Edition, XXXVI, 116-120).
| 116 | Aufert animum et a destinato itinere degredi cogit contemplatio tam prodigae mentis aliamque conectit maiorem insaniam e ligno. C. Curio, qui bello civili in Caesarianis partibus obiit, funebri patris mundere cum opibus apparatuque non posset superare Scaurum unde enim illi vitricus Sulla et Metella mater proscriptionum sectrix? unde M. Scaurus pater, totiens princeps civitatis et Mariani sodalicii rapinarum provincialium sinus? cum iam ne ipse quidem Scaurus sibi par esse posset, quando hoc certe incendi illius praemium habuit convectis ex orbe terrarum rebus, ut nemo postea par esset insaniae illi |
| 117 | ingenio ergo utendum suo Curioni et aliquid excogitandum fuit. operae pretium est scire, quid invenerit, et gaudere moribus nostris ac verso modo nos vocare maiores. theatra iuxta duo fecit amplissima ligno, cardinum singulorum versatili suspensa libramento, in quibus utrisque antemeridiano ludorum spectaculo edito inter sese aversis, ne invicem obstreperent scaenae, repente circumactis ut constat, post primos dies etiam sedentibus aliquis , cornibus in se coeuntibus faciebat ampitheatrum gladiatorumque proelia edebat, ipsum magis auctoritatum populum Romanum circumferens. |
| 118 | quid enim miretur quisque in hoc primum, inventorem an inventum, artificem an auctorem, ausum aliquem hoc excogitare an suscipere an iubere? super omnia erit populi sedere ausi furor tam infida instabilique sede. en hic est ille terrarum victor et totius domitor orbis, qui gentes, regna diribet, iura exteris mittit, deorum quaedam immortalium generi humano portio, in machina pendens et ad periculum suum plaudens! |
| 119 | quae vilitas animarum ista aut quae querella de Cannis! quantum mali potuit accidere! hauriri urbes terrae hiatibus publicus mortalium dolor est: ecce populus Romanus universus, veluti duobus navigiis inpositus, binis cardinibus sustinetur et se ipsum depugnantem spectat, periturus momento aliquo luxatis machinis! |
| 120 | et per hoc quaeritur tribuniciis contionibus gratia, ut pensiles tribus quatiat, in rostris quid non ausurus apud eos, quibus hoc persuaserit! vere namque confitentibus populus Romanus funebri munere ad tumulum patris eius depugnavit universus. variavit hanc suam magnificentiam fessis turbatisque cardinibus et amphitheatri forma custodita novissimo die diversis duabus per medium scaenis athletas edidit raptisque e contrario repente pulpitis eodem die victores e gladiatoribus suis produxit. nec fuit rex Curio aut gentium imperator, non opibus insignis, ut qui nihil in censu habuerit praeter discordiam principum. |
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