DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.785#0197
chap, iv.] THE AMPHITHEATRE. 95
Rome derived her theatrical exhibitions from Etruria.
Livy tells us that the ludi scenici, " a new thing for a war-
like people, who had hitherto known only the games of
the circus," were introduced into Rome in the year 390, in
order to appease the wrath of the gods for a pestilence
then desolating the city—the same, by the way, which
carried off Furius Camillus; and that ludiones were sent
for from Etruria who acted to the sound of the pipe, in
the Tuscan fashion. He adds, that they were also called
" histriones"—hister, in the Etruscan tongue, being equi-
valent to ludio in the Latin.1 All this is corroborated by
Yalerius Maximus; and Tertullian makes it appear that
the very name of these sports was indicative of their
Etruscan origin.2 The Roman theatres of that day must
have been temporary structures of wood, the first perma-
nent theatre being that erected by Pompey A. u. c. 699,
which still exists in Rome. We also learn from Livy that
the Circus Maximus was built by Tarquinius Priscus, the
first of the Etruscan dynasty of Rome, who sent for race-
horses and pugilists to Etruria,3 where such and kindred
games must have been common, as they are represented
on the walls of many of the painted tombs, and on sarco-
phagi, funeral urns, and vases. We have historical evidence
also, that the gladiatorial combats of the Romans had an
Etruscan origin.4 Therefore, though we find no express
1 Liv. VII. 2. name of Consualia. Dionys. II. p. 100;
2 Val. Max. II. 4.3 ; Tertul. de Virg. Ma. VIII. 636. It seems pro-
Spectac. V.; Appian (de Reb. Punic. bable that the Ludi Circenses, introduced
LXVI) says the Ludiones were so called by Tarquin, were a new form of the
because the Etruscans were colonists original Consualia of Romulus. Boxing
from Lydia. to the sound of the flute is said by Era-
3 Liv. I. 35; cf. Dionys. Hal. III. p. 200. tosthenes (ap. Athen. IV. c. 13) to be an
Herodotus (I. 167) mentions the insti- Etruscan custom.
tution of such games at Agylla. Vale- 4 Nicolaus, a peripatetic philosopher
rius Maximus (1. c), on the other hand, of Damascus, ap. Athen. IV. 13, p. 1 S3,
states that the Circensian games were ed. Casaub. In confirmation of which
first celebrated by Romulus, under the we may mention that the name Lanista,
Rome derived her theatrical exhibitions from Etruria.
Livy tells us that the ludi scenici, " a new thing for a war-
like people, who had hitherto known only the games of
the circus," were introduced into Rome in the year 390, in
order to appease the wrath of the gods for a pestilence
then desolating the city—the same, by the way, which
carried off Furius Camillus; and that ludiones were sent
for from Etruria who acted to the sound of the pipe, in
the Tuscan fashion. He adds, that they were also called
" histriones"—hister, in the Etruscan tongue, being equi-
valent to ludio in the Latin.1 All this is corroborated by
Yalerius Maximus; and Tertullian makes it appear that
the very name of these sports was indicative of their
Etruscan origin.2 The Roman theatres of that day must
have been temporary structures of wood, the first perma-
nent theatre being that erected by Pompey A. u. c. 699,
which still exists in Rome. We also learn from Livy that
the Circus Maximus was built by Tarquinius Priscus, the
first of the Etruscan dynasty of Rome, who sent for race-
horses and pugilists to Etruria,3 where such and kindred
games must have been common, as they are represented
on the walls of many of the painted tombs, and on sarco-
phagi, funeral urns, and vases. We have historical evidence
also, that the gladiatorial combats of the Romans had an
Etruscan origin.4 Therefore, though we find no express
1 Liv. VII. 2. name of Consualia. Dionys. II. p. 100;
2 Val. Max. II. 4.3 ; Tertul. de Virg. Ma. VIII. 636. It seems pro-
Spectac. V.; Appian (de Reb. Punic. bable that the Ludi Circenses, introduced
LXVI) says the Ludiones were so called by Tarquin, were a new form of the
because the Etruscans were colonists original Consualia of Romulus. Boxing
from Lydia. to the sound of the flute is said by Era-
3 Liv. I. 35; cf. Dionys. Hal. III. p. 200. tosthenes (ap. Athen. IV. c. 13) to be an
Herodotus (I. 167) mentions the insti- Etruscan custom.
tution of such games at Agylla. Vale- 4 Nicolaus, a peripatetic philosopher
rius Maximus (1. c), on the other hand, of Damascus, ap. Athen. IV. 13, p. 1 S3,
states that the Circensian games were ed. Casaub. In confirmation of which
first celebrated by Romulus, under the we may mention that the name Lanista,