The Archaeology of Violence: Interdisciplinary Approaches

Chapter Eight: “Persuade the People”: Violence and Roman Spectacle Entertainment in the Greek World

Abstract This paper concerns the participation of the spectators at the martyrdom of Polycarp in Smyrna in the mid-second century A.D. Following the work of David Potter and Glen Bowersock, who argue that much of the ideology of Christian martyrdom originated in the context of Roman-style spectacles (gladiatorial combats, wild beast hunts, and fabulous executions) that had been adopted in the Greek cities of Asia Minor, it proposes also to understand these games as a sort of Roman cultural performance, certainly in their Roman context. The martyr-act preserves evidence for the active involvement of the people at such shows, even in Smyrna, allowing us to speculate that they might also have served as a sort of cultural performance in the Greek world. Roman Games in Smyrna The Martyrdom of Polycarp In the mid-second century A.D., the citizens of Smyrna gathered in the stadium during a holiday celebration. Entertaining spectacles had been arranged for them. Smyrna was located on the Aegean coast of Turkey where Izmir now stands and the citizens considered their city to be the “Jewel of Ionia.” There is no longer any record of what went on most of that day, but when we are able to pick up the story, we find the people watching the torture and execution of a group of social outcasts and secretive atheists. Here is a sample of what was happening: Similarly did those who were condemned to the beasts endure terrifying torments, being laid out upon sharp-stones, battered by other tortures, and subjected to various other kinds of cruelties, in Chapter Eight “Persuade the People” Violence and Roman Spectacle Entertainment in the Greek World Michael J. Carter 158 “Persuade the People” 159 order that, if it were possible, the tyrant might by their lingering tortures lead them to a denial. For the Devil did indeed invent many things against them; but thanks be to God, he could not prevail over them all. For the most noble Germanicus strengthened the timidity of others by the perseverance that he showed and he fought heroically with the wild beasts (ethēriomachēsen). For, when the proconsul sought to persuade him, and urged him to take pity upon his young age, he, with a show of force, dragged the beast on top of himself, being desirous to escape all the more quickly from this unjust and lawless world. But upon this the whole mob was astonished (thaumasan) at the great nobility of mind displayed by the devout and godly race of the Christians. They cried out, “Away with the Atheists! Go get Polycarp!” (Mart. Pol. 2–3)1 The passage is from the opening chapters of the Martyrdom of Polycarp and the social outcasts and secretive, treacherous atheists were Christians. Those down in the arena with the beasts had been justly condemned under Roman law and like other damnati ad bestias were executed at the spectacles. The interesting thing about the martyr-act is that it tells the story from the point of view of those being executed (see Potter 1996:155–159). Polycarp was found outside the city moving from estate to estate, and brought back to the city and into the stadium. Again the stadium was filled with the people, possibly as many as twenty thousand and representing as much as 20 per cent of the population (Thompson 2002:49). The proconsul, Lucius Statius Quadratus, was again present in Smyrna when Polycarp was led into the stadium. It was the proconsul himself who interrogated Polycarp: Then, as he was brought in, a great shout arose when the people heard that it was Polycarp who had been arrested. As he was brought before him, the proconsul asked him whether he was Polycarp. When he admitted that he was, the proconsul tried to persuade him to deny, saying, “Respect your age,” and other similar things that they are accustomed to say: “swear by the Genius of the emperor; recant, say: ‘Away with the atheists’”. But Polycarp, with a stern countenance, looked at the mob of lawless heathen who were in the stadium and, shaking his hand at them, he groaned and looked up to heaven and said, “Away with the atheists!” But when the proconsul persisted and said, “Swear and I will let you go. Curse Christ,” Polycarp said, “For eighty-six years I have been his servant and he has done me no wrong; how can I blaspheme against my king who saved me?” But again the...