Ancient Question! EMERGENCY (1 Viewer)

[acemusic415]

Hey sorry guys, I needed to ask a question for Ancient History - although I know this is the wrong section. Sorry but the Ancient forum is dead, by the looks of it.

The source is a picture of a large amphitheatre.
Question: Archaeologists know that people came from neighbouring towns and villages to use the amphitheatre because:
a) It was too large to just serve the people of Pompeii
b) A number count of spectators was kept near the entrance
c) Relief inscriptions and mosaics tell us this fact
d) There was a riot in Pompeii in 59 AD

Cheers Thanks

 

[ArtemisOrthia]

I'd go for D) personally. Tacitus provides an account of the riot between the Pompeian and Nucerian spectators in AD 79; which suggests that people came from neighbouring towns and villages went to the Amphitheatre for their entertainment.

A) is a bit funny, due to the fact that historians can only estimate the sizes of the populations of Pompeii and Herculaneum; so I personally would choose D) over A). B) same situation as A), population count variable, plus doesn't suggest that foreigners might have attended the amphitheatre spectacles and performances. And C) is out, as the majority of archaeological evidence (reliefs, inscriptions, frescoes, etc.) simply depicted the events and types of performances that occurred at the amphitheatre, not generally the composition of the audience.

 

[Jaundice]

I believe there are ancient sources for pompeii talking about the riot which caused it to be shut down for some time.

d) There was a riot in Pompeii in 59 AD

It's easy to google but I do recall the riot.

 

[Jaundice]

Here's Tacitus

http://www.jstor.org/pss/4435118

Here's another site if jstor won't give you full access

http://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/gladiators/pompeii.html

 

[acemusic415]

I'd go for D) personally. Tacitus provides an account of the riot between the Pompeian and Nucerian spectators in AD 79; which suggests that people came from neighbouring towns and villages went to the Amphitheatre for their entertainment.

A) is a bit funny, due to the fact that historians can only estimate the sizes of the populations of Pompeii and Herculaneum; so I personally would choose D) over A). B) same situation as A), population count variable, plus doesn't suggest that foreigners might have attended the amphitheatre spectacles and performances. And C) is out, as the majority of archaeological evidence (reliefs, inscriptions, frescoes, etc.) simply depicted the events and types of performances that occurred at the amphitheatre, not generally the composition of the audience.

I checked my exercise book - it says A. So now I'm even more confused.

 

[Fake-Name]

D would probably be correct since Tacitus did record the event. But it sounds like a trick answer to me:

Archaeologists know that people came from neighbouring towns and villages to use the amphitheatre because "There was a riot in Pompeii in 59AD", makes no sense.

Edit: A-C ACTUALLY answer the question, but yes, A would be the right answer. I guess it's a trick.

 

[Jaundice]

Kinda gay trick question because the riot source says it all but just saying "a riot" doesn't really work. If it assumed you knew about the riot sources then yeah.

If only they mentioned Tacitus' account. Then it would be D.