The free time
Besides the thermal baths, Pompeians enjoyed themselves at the theater. The shows had to be manifold; we have recovered numerous paintings that adorned the walls, that represented theatrical shows, more over Pompeii had two theaters: the Little Theater, destined generally to musical and poetic auditions, and the Theater, for the representation of tragedies, comedies and satires. The title and the author of the comedies, publicised by the heralds and advertising notices, were announced before the show by the prolugus, that gave a brief summary of the production.
But the show that more impassioned the Pompeians was the one about gladiatorial fights that were unwound in the Amphitheater; this type of show originated in Campania. The gladiators, recruited by entrepreneurs between enslaved and criminal, were trained in schools or ludi and sent in the arena with the promise, in case of victory, of liberty. The fight between gladiators was not the only show unwound in the arena, there were also the fight of men against the beasts or of domestic animals against fierce beasts.
The calendar of the games was very long and the greatest number of shows was held in the period between February and July. There were some festivities like those celebrated in honour of Apollo (Ludi Apollinares), or festivities for extraordinary events like the inauguration of statues that required games and fights financed by duoviri or ædiles.
But the show that more impassioned the Pompeians was the one about gladiatorial fights that were unwound in the Amphitheater; this type of show originated in Campania. The gladiators, recruited by entrepreneurs between enslaved and criminal, were trained in schools or ludi and sent in the arena with the promise, in case of victory, of liberty. The fight between gladiators was not the only show unwound in the arena, there were also the fight of men against the beasts or of domestic animals against fierce beasts.
The calendar of the games was very long and the greatest number of shows was held in the period between February and July. There were some festivities like those celebrated in honour of Apollo (Ludi Apollinares), or festivities for extraordinary events like the inauguration of statues that required games and fights financed by duoviri or ædiles.
The most important feast at Roman time, therefore of the Pompeian, was the Saturnali (correspondent to Carnival), in honour of the God Saturn, one of the most ancient agricultural divinities of central Italy, whose name seems to derive from the Latin Sator (sower), then fused with the Greek Cronos.
The third day of the Saturnali was held a sacrifice in front of the Temple of Saturn, with a banquet in which participated only enslaved, that enjoyed of full liberty in that day; they wore the suits of the master and were served at the table by the masters themselves and they ate and drank how much as they like. Thanks to this custom, at least once a year, that maltreated class of men had the opportunity to forget own poverty.
The third day of the Saturnali was held a sacrifice in front of the Temple of Saturn, with a banquet in which participated only enslaved, that enjoyed of full liberty in that day; they wore the suits of the master and were served at the table by the masters themselves and they ate and drank how much as they like. Thanks to this custom, at least once a year, that maltreated class of men had the opportunity to forget own poverty.
During the Saturnali Pompeians were dressed in special way, with elegant light all embroidered clothes (syntesis), the schools and the courts were closed, every debate and every execution against the guilty ones were suspended; every family sacrificed a sucking pig, candles were switched on to symbolise the sun that reappears after the winter, in fact after the Saturnali the days return to lengthen.
Easy to imagine how inns and thermopolia were filled of people: good drinks of vinum, hearty meal of pizza Neapolitan style (without tomatoes, not yet known), of sausages, of varied foods accompanied by garum, onions (cepæ) and cabbages (brassicæ). In short, it was a whole party of joy for the cities of the Roman world, therefore also for Pompeii, above all for the popular classes.