Widowiska epoki klasycznej w ocenie Kościoła afrykańskiego II-V wieku

Abstract

The antique epoch in the Roman Africa witnessed a deep conflict between Christianity and paganism which represented two opposing conceptions of the world and life. An especially interesting level of this conflict was constituted by spectacles (spectacula), which consisted mainly of chariot races (ludi circenses), theatrical shows (ludi scenici) and amphitheater games including gladiatorial contests. The Church’s distaste for spectacles was almost the same with respect to circus, theatre and amphitheater. The nature of the motives for the Christian opposition were religious (a threat to fait) and moral (a threat to good manners). Classical spectacles were connected with the pagan ideology through their origin a the contents they carried. To this, negative moral aspects were added, namely barbarous customs (amphitheater, circus) and a decline of good artistic taste (theatre). The African Church fought against classical spectacles both before and after 313. In the theoretical field Tertulian’s, Lactantius’s and St Augustine’s views were almost identical. In the practical sphere efforts were made in various ways to prevent both the active and passive presence of Christians in circus, amphitheater and theatre. The active presence (taking part in the action on the stage or arena) was effectively limited. However, preventing the passive presence (in the role of a spectator) did not bring about spectacular effects and African Christians with their immoderate curiosity supported the pagan spectacles. In this situation the African Church fought against the ancient spectacles also after the fall of the Roman power, and the whole problem ceased to exist only when the African Church disappeared from the map of Christianity.