Gladiatorial images decorated art around the empire, from mosaics4
to household lamps. In one
mosaic from a Roman villa in Germany, for example, one of several mosaic panels on the floor of
the building's entrance hall depicts scenes from the arena. The illustration shows a retiarius, or
net-and-trident5
bearer, fighting a better-armed secutor, literally pursuer, under the watchful
eyes of a lanista, or trainer. The artwork recreates a typical scene: the retiarius wears no armor
except for a shoulder-piece protecting his left side. To defend himself against the dagger wielded
by the secutor, the retiarius had to be fit enough to be able to keep moving.
a. secutor c. gladiator images
b. lanista d. retarius
Question 2
Our fascination with the gladiator is nothing compared to the Romans'. Everybody in Rome
talked about gladiators. At Pompeii, graffiti celebrated a star of the arena that all the girls sigh
for. Jokes poked fun at gladiators, philosophers pondered their meaning, and literature is full of
references to them.
a. gladiators c. Pompeii
b. popularity of gladiators d. Rome
Scorpions, Spiders and Sharks: Electron-Microscope Images
Scorpions, Spiders and Sharks: Electron-Microscope Images
The Course of Empire, 1867–1901
Relation between form, particular objects, and images in Plato’s Line.
René Magritt,. The Treason of Images, Ceci n'est past une pipe.
Allan Kaprow, Household.