"Bread and circuses" (or bread and games; from Latin: panem et circenses) is a metonymic phrase referring to superficial appeasement. It is attributed to Juvenal (Satires, Satire X), a Roman poet active in the late first and early second century CE, and is used commonly in cultural, particularly political, contexts.
Juvenal originally used it to decry the "selfishness" of common people and their neglect of wider concerns.[2][3][4] The phrase implies a population's erosion or ignorance of civic duty as a priority.[5]
This phrase originates from Rome in Satire X of the Roman satirical poet Juvenal (c. 100 CE). In context, the Latinpanem et circenses (bread and circuses) identifies the only remaining interest of a Roman populace that no longer cares for its historical birthright of political involvement. Here Juvenal displays his contempt for the declining heroism of contemporary Romans, using a range of different themes, including lust for power and desire for old age to illustrate his argument.[6]
[...] iam pridem, ex quo suffragia nulli / vendimus, effudit curas; nam qui dabat olim / imperium, fasces, legiones, omnia, nunc se / continet atque duas tantum res anxius optat, / panem et circenses. [...]
... Already long ago, from when we sold our vote to no man, the People have abdicated our duties; for the People who once upon a time handed out military command, high civil office, legions — everything, now restrains itself and anxiously hopes for just two things: bread and circuses.[7]
—Juvenal, Satire 10.77–81
Juvenal here makes reference to the Roman practice of providing free wheat to Roman citizens as well as costly circus games and other forms of entertainment as a means of gaining political power. The Annona (grain dole) was begun under the instigation of the aristocratic popularis politician Gaius Sempronius Gracchus in 123 BCE; it remained an object of political contention until it was taken under the control of the autocratic Roman emperors.
^. Yahoo. Archived from the original on 2012-11-05.
^Infoplease Dictionary as pacification or diversion.
^. Newcastle Herald. Newcastle NSW Australia. 2017. Archived from the original on 2018-01-09. Retrieved 2017-10-11.
^Hirsch, Kett, & Trefil (1993). The Dictionary of Cultural Literacy. Houghton Mifflin.
^By J. P. Toner full quote at p.69. For us in the modern world, leisure is secondary to work, but in ancient Rome leisure was central to social life] and an integral part of its history.
Sources
Potter, D. and D. Mattingly, Life, Death, and Entertainment in the Roman Empire. Ann Arbor (1999).
Rickman, G., The Corn Supply of Ancient Rome Oxford (1980).
Further reading
Look up bread and circuses in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
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This article is about a concept in political satire For other uses see Bread and Circuses disambiguation Bread and circuses or bread and games from Latin panem et circenses is a metonymic phrase referring to superficial appeasement It is attributed to Juvenal Satires Satire X a Roman poet active in the late first and early second century CE and is used commonly in cultural particularly political contexts In a political context the phrase means to generate public approval not by excellence in public service or public policy but by diversion distraction or by satisfying the most immediate or base requirements of a populace 1 by offering a palliative for example food bread or entertainment circuses Juvenal originally used it to decry the selfishness of common people and their neglect of wider concerns 2 3 4 The phrase implies a population s erosion or ignorance of civic duty as a priority 5 Contents 1 Ancient Rome 2 See also 3 Notes 4 Sources 5 Further readingAncient Rome EditFurther information Cura Annonae and Optimates and populares This phrase originates from Rome in Satire X of the Roman satirical poet Juvenal c 100 CE In context the Latin panem et circenses bread and circuses identifies the only remaining interest of a Roman populace that no longer cares for its historical birthright of political involvement Here Juvenal displays his contempt for the declining heroism of contemporary Romans using a range of different themes including lust for power and desire for old age to illustrate his argument 6 iam pridem ex quo suffragia nulli vendimus effudit curas nam qui dabat olim imperium fasces legiones omnia nunc se continet atque duas tantum res anxius optat panem et circenses Already long ago from when we sold our vote to no man the People have abdicated our duties for the People who once upon a time handed out military command high civil office legions everything now restrains itself and anxiously hopes for just two things bread and circuses 7 Juvenal Satire 10 77 81Juvenal here makes reference to the Roman practice of providing free wheat to Roman citizens as well as costly circus games and other forms of entertainment as a means of gaining political power The Annona grain dole was begun under the instigation of the aristocratic popularis politician Gaius Sempronius Gracchus in 123 BCE it remained an object of political contention until it was taken under the control of the autocratic Roman emperors See also Edit Ancient Rome portalAmusing Ourselves to Death 1985 book by Neil Postman Battle Royale 2000 Japanese action thriller film Brave New World 1932 dystopian science fiction novel by Aldous Huxley Bread and Circuses Star Trek The Original Series a 1968 episode of Star Trek Bread and roses SloganPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Pages displaying short descriptions with no spaces Colosseum Ancient Roman amphitheatre a landmark of Rome Italy Panem The Hunger Games Young adult book series by Suzanne CollinsPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Cura Annonae Import and distribution of grain in Rome and Constantinople Idiocracy 2006 film directed by Mike Judge Idiot idiocy Athenian democracy Person of low intelligence Instrumentum regni Exploitation of religion by State or ecclesiastical polity as a means of controlling the masses List of Latin phrases Prolefeed Fictional language in the novel Nineteen Eighty FourPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Fahrenheit 451 1953 dystopian novel by Ray Bradbury Plebs General body of free ancient Roman citizens who were not patriciansPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Theatre state ritual entertainment as the pre eminent element in a political systemNotes Edit Definition of BREAD AND CIRCUSES www merriam webster com Juvenal s literary and cultural influence Book IV Satire 10 81 American Heritage Dictionary to placate or distract Yahoo Archived from the original on 2012 11 05 Infoplease Dictionary as pacification or diversion Bread circuses and our disappearing city Newcastle Herald Newcastle NSW Australia 2017 Archived from the original on 2018 01 09 Retrieved 2017 10 11 Hirsch Kett amp Trefil 1993 The Dictionary of Cultural Literacy Houghton Mifflin By J P Toner full quote at p 69 For us in the modern world leisure is secondary to work but in ancient Rome leisure was central to social life and an integral part of its history Sources EditPotter D and D Mattingly Life Death and Entertainment in the Roman Empire Ann Arbor 1999 Rickman G The Corn Supply of Ancient Rome Oxford 1980 Further reading Edit Look up bread and circuses in Wiktionary the free dictionary Juvenal s 16 Satires in Latin at The Latin Library Juvenal s first 3 Satires in English Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bread and circuses amp oldid 1149644127, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
