The people of ancient Rome loved spectacles and, lucky for them, they could often be entertained by lavish public shows. The emperors of Rome knew of their people’s love of spectacle so a way that they could garner popularity and prestige during their reign was to put on great shows in their purpose-built arenas and venues. These venues would host any number of events from chariot races and gladiator fights to processions, executions, and even mock naval battles. I guess their love of sports and spectacles makes it less surprising that some of the best-preserved architecture from ancient Rome are the buildings that were constructed for entertainment purposes.
Rome’s enormous Circus Maximus was the place to be if you wanted to catch the most prestigious chariot races that the empire put on, but by the third century CE you could see these spectacular events in other major cities like Alexandria, Constantinople, and Antioch, and as the empire continued, the chariot races just got even more popular. Then there were the gladiatorial events which were always popular. The display of courage, bloody spectacle, and the potential for the underdog to rise to victory were all parts of what made gladiator fights so appealing to the Roman audience.
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