The Plebeian Games (Latin ''Ludi Plebeii'') were an

ancient Roman In modern historiography, ancient Rome refers to Roman civilisation from the founding of the city of Rome in the 8th century BC to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD. It encompasses the Roman Kingdom (753–50 ...

religious festival A religious festival is a time of special importance marked by adherents to that religion. Religious festivals are commonly celebrated on recurring cycles in a calendar year or lunar calendar. The science of religious rites and festivals is known ...

held November 4–17. The games ''(

ludi ''Ludi'' ( Latin plural) were public games held for the benefit and entertainment of the Roman people (''populus Romanus''). ''Ludi'' were held in conjunction with, or sometimes as the major feature of, Roman religious festivals, and were also ...

)'' included both theatrical performances ''(

ludi scaenici The architectural form of theatre in Rome has been linked to later, more well-known examples from the 1st century BC to the 3rd Century AD. The theatre of ancient Rome referred to as a period of time in which theatrical practice and performance t ...

)'' and athletic competitions for the purpose of entertaining the common people of Rome.

History

The Plebeian Games may have been celebrated among the common people without an official place on the religious calendar until plebeians rose to positions of highest prominence;

Cicero Marcus Tullius Cicero ( ; ; 3 January 106 BC – 7 December 43 BC) was a Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, philosopher, and academic skeptic, who tried to uphold optimate principles during the political crises that led to the esta ...

, at least, thought they were Rome's oldest ''ludi''. They are known to have been held each year from 220 onward, but may have been much older. It may be most accurate to say the ''Ludi Plebeii'' were first established as a public festival in 220 BC. Because the proceedings of the Plebeian Games strikingly resemble those of the ''Ludi Romani'' ("Roman Games"), T.P. Wiseman has suggested that they were created by the ''plebs'' as an assertion of their own identity, perhaps as early as the 5th or 4th century BC.

Purpose

The ''Ludi Plebeii'' were presented by the

plebeian aedile ''Aedile'' ( ; la, aedīlis , from , "temple edifice") was an elected office of the Roman Republic. Based in Rome, the aediles were responsible for maintenance of public buildings () and regulation of public festivals. They also had powers to enf ...

s and celebrated plebeian political liberty, but tradition varied as to freedom from what: either the tyranny of the Tarquins in the Regal period, or the dominance of the

patricians The patricians (from la, patricius, Greek: πατρίκιος) were originally a group of ruling class families in ancient Rome. The distinction was highly significant in the Roman Kingdom, and the early Republic, but its relevance waned after ...

, the hereditary ruling class of early

Republican Rome The Roman Republic ( la, Res publica Romana ) was a form of government of Rome and the era of the classical Roman civilization when it was run through public representation of the Roman people. Beginning with the overthrow of the Roman King ...

(see "

Conflict of the Orders The Conflict of the Orders, sometimes referred to as the Struggle of the Orders, was a political struggle between the plebeians (commoners) and patricians (aristocrats) of the ancient Roman Republic lasting from 500 BC to 287 BC in which the pl ...

").

Timing and location

According to one ancient source, the games were held in the

Circus Flaminius The Circus Flaminius was a large, circular area in ancient Rome, located in the southern end of the Campus Martius near the Tiber River. It contained a small race-track used for obscure games, and various other buildings and monuments. It was "bu ...

, which was associated with the common people of Rome ''(

plebs In ancient Rome, the plebeians (also called plebs) were the general body of free Roman citizens who were not patricians, as determined by the census, or in other words " commoners". Both classes were hereditary. Etymology The precise origins ...

)''. Nearly all other games were held in the

Circus Maximus The Circus Maximus (Latin for "largest circus"; Italian: ''Circo Massimo'') is an ancient Roman chariot-racing stadium and mass entertainment venue in Rome, Italy. In the valley between the Aventine and Palatine hills, it was the first and l ...

. The Circus Flaminius was built by the

plebeian In ancient Rome, the plebeians (also called plebs) were the general body of free Roman citizens who were not patricians, as determined by the census, or in other words " commoners". Both classes were hereditary. Etymology The precise origins ...

censor Gaius Flaminius in 220 BC, and the annual games may have been instituted by him that year. During the festival, a feast of Jupiter ''(Epulum Iovis)'' was held November 13, a cavalry parade November 14, and circus games ''(

ludi circenses ''Ludi'' ( Latin plural) were public games held for the benefit and entertainment of the Roman people (''populus Romanus''). ''Ludi'' were held in conjunction with, or sometimes as the major feature of, Roman religious festivals, and were also ...

'', mainly chariot races) November 15–17. The siting of the games at the Circus Flaminius may thus be an error, since the Circus Flaminius had no track for chariot racing. A

procession A procession is an organized body of people walking in a formal or ceremonial manner. History Processions have in all peoples and at all times been a natural form of public celebration, as forming an orderly and impressive ceremony. Religious ...

similar to that of the ''Ludi Romani'' is likely also to have been part of the festivities.

Miscellanea

Plautus Titus Maccius Plautus (; c. 254 – 184 BC), commonly known as Plautus, was a Roman playwright of the Old Latin period. His comedies are the earliest Latin literary works to have survived in their entirety. He wrote Palliata comoedia, the g ...

first presented his comedy '' Stichus'' at the Plebeian Games of 200 BC.

Livy Titus Livius (; 59 BC – AD 17), known in English as Livy ( ), was a Roman historian. He wrote a monumental history of Rome and the Roman people, titled , covering the period from the earliest legends of Rome before the traditional founding in ...

notes that the ''ludi'' had to be repeated three times in 216 BC, owing to a '' vitium'' (ritual fault) that disrupted the correct performance of events.Davis, "Games," p. 266.

References

{{Roman religion (festival) Ancient Roman festivals November observances Recurring sporting events established before 1750

History

Purpose

Timing and location

Miscellanea

See also

References