why did the Romans....?

Question

Why did the Romans find it cruel when Pompey had animals in the celebration of dedication to his theater, but they did not find it cruel when similar such circumstances took place in the colliseum?

there is a guy named pompey and a place called pompey... but they are pronounced different (by my professor, at least). so, we entered a discussion wondering why the romans did not find it cruel that animals were slain in the colliseum. the colliseum animal slayings took place after the dedication of pompeys. so, what i am thinking is that the romans must have slowly become bored with basic fighting. they must have slowly become more & more violent in their fighting through the involvement of animals. also, what i do know is that the romans fights always had to be between equally capable fighters. the elephants were just tortured. so, perhaps that is why they were appalled instead of entertained. i think i answered my own question.

oops... i meant there is a difference between pompey and pompeii... i knew something didnt look right.

Answer 1

Would you be refering to the writings of Cicero by any chance with regard to Pompey's shows?

Cicero wrote about the elephants and said that 'there was not pleasure in it' and that there was a reaction from the crowds 'close to pity'.

In this instance, the crowds and Cicero I believe saw the elephant as a everything the Roman Empire should symbolize. Greatness, power and a proud authority. They simply felt sorry for the animals in this instance as they reminded them of their own existance or their own world and to see it reduced to a show caused pity.

Now if we look at the killings during the Venatones that took place in the Colosseum we can see another facet of the Roman populus. To understand them you have to think on their terms and not like a 21st century person. The Ancient Romans believed that it was God like and good to see these animals hunted and slaughtered and that their Emperor or Consul was a good ruler for allowing it to take place. If you look back to the ancient myths and legends you will see that Hercules et al hunted and slayed animals and therefore it was expected and revered in Ancient Rome. Emperors also usually liked to have a connection with the Gods with many of them even insisting that they were direct decendents thus these animal hunts also went some way to giving thier claims credability with the masses.

I hope this helps a little and remember in your Classical studies to think how a contemporary of that era would have thought.

Good Luck

Answer 2

Not sure what you are talking about. Pompeiii is covered with mosaics celebrating the killing of animals in games and celebrations.

If you read something like that, it could have been one of those deals where Rome (where the big dog lives) was mad a Pompei (because they thought they were better than the people in Rome - and they were just far enough away that nobody from Rome wanted to have to go down there all the time for every little infraction.

Also, they controlled an important water system so they had a little leverage over Rome.

Answer 3

I don't think they did, particularly. At least Plutarch in his life of Pompey says, "These entertainments brought him great honor and popularity." He mentions "horror and amazement" at the deaths of the dueling elephants, but that was surely part of the entertainment.

Answer 4

because they were hypocritical. they had gladiator shows all the time with human beings, but of course using animals in a celebration is cruel. haha.

the romans were the americans of the antiquity: they shouted out their values but quietly ignored them.

Answer 5

cause the romans were hypocritical crazy people

Answer 6

not too sure