Theater is a political propaganda tool with the middle of the last century of the Roman Republic

Author

History Department - Faculty of Arts - Assiut University

Abstract

Theatrical performances became one of the forces influencing public opinion and the political situation during the last period of the history of the Roman Republic, in which the party and class struggle intensified, which made Pompeius - a distinguished military and political leader - to use theater in political propaganda in order to influence The public and the confirmation of his popularity, in the period of incompatibility between him and the Senatus, which was also associated with his association with Julius Caesar, despite the fierce competition between them. We find Pompeius introducing a new tradition in the history of the Roman theatrical experience, by building for the first time a permanent stone theater in a distinguished location in Rome, which is Campus Martius. This is in contrast to the prevailing tradition until that time, which was to build temporary theaters whenever needed or occasion, which was controlled by members of the Senatos class at a high cost. This study can be broken down into three points:
First: Pompeius and the reasons for building the first permanent stone Roman theater.
Second: The motives for choosing Pompey to the theater to consolidate his position and the significance of the choice.
Third: Pompeius and his efforts to exploit theater as a visible political and media tool.

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