Ancient Rome: Pantomime

 

 I

 Unit: Ancient Rome

Theme: Pantomime


Introduction

In modern historiography, Ancient Rome refers to Roman civilization from the founding of the Italian city of Rome in the 8th century BC to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD. It encompasses the Roman Kingdom, Roman Republic and Roman Empire until the fall of the western empire.

Ancient Rome gave to the Performing Arts its pantomime. Pantomime is a dramatic entertainment, originating in Roman mime, in which performers express meaning through gestures accompanied by music.

 

II

Learning Objectives 

 

  • Understand the impact the the Roman Empire had on religion
  • Explain why new comedy was important within the context of Ancient Rome
  • Gain an awareness about the connection  between Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece
  • Experience the use of pantomime to tell a story

 

 III

Main Lesson

 

1

 Ancient Rome


(5:36 min.)

Question 1

 What was a main cultural shift in Rome that has affected world religion to this day? Explain



2



Question 2

Why is new comedy important in the context of Ancient Rome?




3

 


Question 3

In which way do Seneca's tragedies resemble the overall relationship between Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece? Explain

 

Link 

The Tragedies of Seneca 

This text compares the plays that Seneca wrote and compares them with their homologous written by Greek playwrights.

------------------------

 

 

 4

 

LINK

The Ascension of the Pumpkin Head Claudius into Heaven


Question 4

Read the first paragraph and comment on the words of Seneca the young cited above.

 


5




OVID

 

Link:

 Reading Ovid

(Pages 407 - 463)

 

 Read

 

 

 6

 

 

Pantomimus
 

 

Link

Pantomime 

 


IV

A Note to Remember

 Pantomime, the most popular art-form of Roman theatre under the empire, in which a solo dancer (pantomimus, παντόμιμος‎‎) represented mythological themes without voice, was supported by instrumental music and a chorus.

 

V

Case Study

 


Question 5

What is the whole purpose of this performance?


Question 6

What elements of Roman drama does this production use?



VI

 Activity

 

Link:

 Ovid's Stories


Students choose a story they prefer to turn into pantomime. They share with the rest of the class their final pantomime story accompanied by music.

 

VII

Journaling

 

VIII

Glossary

 

IX

Sources

https://www.thoughtco.com/medusa-pictures-of-medusa-4126820

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Reading_Ovid/XQ7SYYc_5RsC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Narcissus

 Beare, William & Spawforth, A. Pantomime. https://oxfordre.com/classics/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-4709;jsessionid=0AF571FFE14BB152D66E5A4C8CE0DE13

 

X

Students' Work

 

 

 

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