Public Entertainments in Late Antiquity
On 17 September 2007, Charlotte Roueché, Professor of Classical and Byzantine Greek at King´s College, London, gave an inspiring lecture entitled “Looking for Public Entertainments in Late Antiquity” as part of the Aarhus Late Antiquity Lecture Series. Her emphasis was on Aphrodisias and Ephesus and the vast amount of graffiti registered at the two sites. With great enthusiasm she convinced us that graffiti is both a very enlightening but also overlooked source for gaining information about what actually happened in the “entertainment” structures such as Odeion, theatres and stadiums in Late Antiquity. It was not only plays and readings with the purpose to educate young men that was on display in the theatres, as gladiators, acrobats, actors and musicians are also testified by graffiti engraved on seats, columns, and walls. Much of this great material can be found online at the Inscriptions of Aphrodisias website.