Entertainment

1. The Romans enjoyed attending plays at the theatre. Most performances held were comedies, but one could sometimes also see tragedies. Actors would wear wigs to indicate the nature of their characters, so for instance an old man would have a white one whereas a slave would wear red. Also, the performers would sometimes wear face masks with certain expressions to show what their character were feeling at the time.
2. Roman bath houses were a centre of social activity and were open to everyone. After warming up with a bit of exercise you would swim in the pool before progressing through a series of heated rooms which increased in temperature. Whilst doing this you would talk with friends, conduct business meetings and meet new people.
3. Ancient Romans loved a festival! Often featuring great feats, dancing and singing in public and general jollity, everyone got involved. Many of the holidays we celebrate today have their roots in Roman events, such as Lupercalia in which young people chose future marriage partners by drawing names out of a hat! Over time this evolved into Valentine’s Day.
4. Romans would host huge feasts and banquets that often lasted for hours. When people were full, they would deliberately vomit so they could continue eating.
5. Popular sports in ancient Rome included riding, fencing, wrestling, throwing, swimming, hunting, fishing and various ball games. However, only men were permitted to partake!
6. Many cities in the Roman empire were home to enormous Colosseums which played host to events including gladiatorial games. Some of these amphitheatres still survive to this day, including the most famous - the city of Rome’s own Colosseum.
7. When Rome’s Colosseum opened, a spectacle of games, fights and shows was held to entertain the public and celebrate their new stadium. An incredible 5,000 animals were killed on the opening day alone. It had taken twelve years to build and - like may modern stadiums today - had a roof that could be stretched over the crowd, but this was used to shade people from blazing sun rather than protect them from rain.
8. Usually, the shows at the Colosseum were put on for free; the government considered this a good way to keep the population (many of whom were unemployed) happy. Gladiatorial fights proved extremely popular and featured different types of fighters such as one combatant with a sword and shield (a Secutor wielding his gladius) versus another with a trident and net (who was called a Retiarius).
9. Most events held in Colosseums involved death and destruction. Gladiator fights were common, where men either battled each other or were pitted against wild animals. Sometimes, different species would be made to fight one another, answering questions such as “who would win a fight between an elephant and a bear?” So many animals were killed that certain species died out in the Roman empire’s lands. Incredibly, the Colosseum in Rome was sometimes deliberately flooded and played host to replica naval battles with full-size warships.
10. The largest stadium in ancient Rome was in fact the Circus Maximus. It was 621 metres in length, accommodates 150,000 spectators and hosted chariot races amongst other public entertainment spectacles.