It is amazing in what a cold-blooded manner all this was carried out.  When one reads the notices written up at Pompeii, that on such-and-such a date there will be exhibited so many pairs of gladiators, that “there will be a beast-hunt,” and that “awnings will be provided and perfume sprinkled,” it is difficult at first to realise that it means all that it does mean.  To the credit of the Romans—­so far as they deserve any at all—­let it be stated that the presence of women was not encouraged at these shows; that if they appeared at all, it must be in the upper tier, as far as possible from the arena; and, strangely enough, that only the six Vestals, in virtue of their religious claims, could be placed in any position of honour.  These sat upon the lowest platform, in line with the special seats of the emperor or president and the highest officials of the state, but it is probably a libel for an artist to depict them as so many Maenads lusting for the blood of the vanquished.

The only other form of public entertainment which it seems desirable to mention was that of a naval battle, in which the sea was either represented by flooding the amphitheatre, or by means of a permanent lake, such as that which Augustus created artificially across the Tiber.  The proceedings bore all the appearance of reality.  Ships were rammed, sunk, overturned, and boarded, and, so far as the men were concerned, the battle might be as grim and bloody as any other kind of gladiatorial contest.

CHAPTER XVI

THE WOMEN:  MARRIAGE, THE ROMAN MATRON, AND HER DRESS

We will assume that Silius is a married man, and that his wife is a typical Roman dame worthy of his station in life.  Her name shall be Marcia, or, if she possesses more than one, Marcia Sabina.  Marriage does not confer upon her the name of her husband, and if she requires further identification in connection with him, she will be referred to as “Silius’s Marcia.”  At an earlier date a woman owned but a single name, but already practical convenience and pride of descent had combined to make it desirable that she should bear a second, which might be taken from the family either of her father or of her mother.  Thus if Silius and Marcia themselves have a daughter, she may in her turn perhaps be called Silia Bassa, perhaps Silia Marcia.

If now we proceed to describe the position of Marcia in her conjugal and family relations, to speak of her way of life, and to suggest her probable character, it must be understood that the description would by no means necessarily fit every Roman matron.  Women are said to be infinitely various, and in this respect the ancient world was precisely like the modern.  And not only has it further to be borne in mind that there were several strata of Roman society, and that city life differed widely from country life; there was also an actual difference in the legal position