Public games held for the benefit and entertainment of the Roman people
For other uses, see Ludus (disambiguation).
Chariot races, as depicted on this 2nd-century relief, were among the ludi presented at Roman religious festivals
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 presented as part of the cult of state.
The earliest ludi were horse races in the circus (ludi circenses).[1] Animal exhibitions with mock hunts (venationes) and theatrical performances (ludi scaenici) also became part of the festivals.[2]
Days on which ludi were held were public holidays, and no business could be conducted—"remarkably," it has been noted, "considering that in the Imperial era more than 135 days might be spent at these entertainments" during the year.[3] Although their entertainment value may have overshadowed religious sentiment at any given moment, even in late antiquity the ludi were understood as part of the worship of the traditional gods, and the Church Fathers thus advised Christians not to participate in the festivities.[4]
The singular form ludus, "game, sport" or "play" has several meanings in Latin.[5] The plural is used for "games" in a sense analogous to the Greek festivals of games, such as the Panhellenic Games.[6] The late-antique scholar Isidore of Seville, however, classifies the forms of ludus as gymnicus ("athletic"), circensis ("held in the circus," mainly the chariot races), gladiatorius ("gladiatorial") and scaenicus ("theatrical").[7] The relation of gladiatorial games to the ludi is complex; see Gladiator.
^Not all chariot races were part of religious festivals.
^Mary Beard, J.A. North, and S.R.F. Price, Religions of Rome: A History (Cambridge University Press, 1998), p. 66.
^Matthew Bunson, A Dictionary of the Roman Empire (Oxford University Press, 1995), p. 246. In the late Roman Republic, 57 days were spent at ludi on fixed dates, with many of the additional game days added by Augustus.
^Beard, Religions of Rome, p. 262.
^Ludus, for instance, may refer to child's play, erotic game-playing, an elementary school, and a training camp for gladiators: Oxford Latin Dictionary (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1982, 1985 reprint), pp. 1048–1049.
^Helen Lovatt, Statius and Epic Games: Sport, Politics, and Poetics in the Thebaid (Cambridge University Press, 2005), pp. 5–6.
Ludi (Latin plural) were public games held for the benefit and entertainment of the Roman people (populus Romanus). Ludi were held in conjunction with...
Ludi Lin (Chinese: 林路迪; pinyin: Lín Lùdí) is a Chinese-Canadian actor and model. He is known for playing Zack Taylor in the 2017 Power Rangers reboot,...
the title Magister Ludi, Latin for "Master of the Game", an honorific title awarded to the book's central character. "Magister Ludi" can also be seen as...
The Ludi Romani ("Roman Games"; see ludi) was a religious festival in ancient Rome. Usually including multiple ceremonies called ludi. They were held...
A ludi magister was a teacher at a Roman school (Ludus). Magistri were often Greek or other educated slaves. The ludi magister was the teacher of the...
"Ludi letnji ples" ("Serbian Cyrillic: Луди летњи плес"; transl. Crazy Summer Dance) is a song by Flamingosi featuring Louis from the Flamingosi album...
were both sacred to Ceres, foxes are punished at her festival ever since. Ludi Ceriales or "Games of Ceres" were held as part of the festival in the Circus...
Ludi Boeken (born 1951 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch film producer, director and actor. His daughter, Julia Levy-Boeken, is an actress. He was born in Amsterdam...
(Latin Ludi Plebeii) were an ancient Roman religious festival held November 4–17. The games (ludi) included both theatrical performances (ludi scaenici)...
The Ludi Apollinares were solemn games (ludi) held annually by the ancient Romans in honor of the god Apollo. The tradition goes that at the first celebration...
park. The Circus was Rome's largest venue for ludi, public games connected to Roman religious festivals. Ludi were sponsored by leading Romans or the Roman...
In classical antiquity, the Juvenalia, or Ludi Juvenales (Gr Ἱουβενάλια ὥσπερ τινὰ νεανισκεύματα), were scenic games instituted by Nero in 59 AD, at the...
The Reed Flute Cave (Chinese: 芦笛岩; pinyin: Lúdí Yán), also known as "the Palace of Natural Arts," is a landmark and tourist attraction in Guilin, Guangxi...
Republican era, or 28 April in the Julian calendar. The festival included Ludi Florae, the "Games of Flora", which lasted for six days under the empire...
The Ludi Piscatorii was a Roman holiday celebrated on 7 June in the 3rd century BC in honor of Father Tiber. The holiday was celebrated by the fishermen...
celebrated by the Roman people and received public funding. Games (ludi), such as the Ludi Apollinares, were not technically feriae, but the days on which...
Saecular Games (Ludi Saeculares) was an ancient Roman religious celebration involving sacrifices, theatrical performances, and public games (ludi). It was held...
Carlalberto Ludi (born 24 December 1982) is a former Italian footballer. Lega Pro Prima Divisione: 2010 http://sport.sky.it/sport/statistiche/calcio/2...
The Megalesia, Megalensia, or Megalenses Ludi was a festival celebrated in Ancient Rome from April 4 to April 10, in honour of Cybele, known to Romans...
Sarah Ludi (1971) is a Swiss dancer who is based in Brussels and is best known for her work with the choreographers Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker / Rosas...
Global Information