Roman Leisure
The Romans shared their leisure time between the public and private spheres. They entertained friends and family within their property offering them food, presents (xenia), and other pleasures such as games and hunting wherever it was possible. In wealthy mansions bedrooms and dining rooms were provided to the guests. In the public sphere the Romans did their shopping, ate and drank, watched various dramatic, athletic and arena performances, listened to their orators, played board games, gambled, bathed, exercised in the palaestra, swam in the natatio, walked in the public gardens and visited brothels and, on the other hand, temples. A lot of information about how the Romans spent their leisure time in both spheres is provided by ancient literature as well as by works of art, entertainment facilities and private dwellings. In this class the works of art and archaeological remains will be dealt with and equated with contemporary written evidence.