On the 4th and 5th of May 2013, the Amphitheatre of Nîmes will welcome The Great Roman Games for the fourth time. This year’s event will be driven by the passion of the re-enactors and the general public, and inspired by the outstanding backdrop of the Amphitheatre. In 2013, no fewer than 500 re-enactors from all over Europe will be present in Nîmes, thereby creating the largest re-enactment ever of ancient times. With a special focus on the Triumph of Caesar, they will again recreate the “Ludi” games, famous throughout the Roman Empire. Last year, more than 18 600 people attended the show.

Why are the Great Roman Games being held in Nîmes?
Nicknamed the “French Rome”, Nîmes has the best preserved Roman monuments in the world: the Arena, the Maison Carrée (Square House), Magne Tower, not forgetting the Castellum Divisorium (water distribution basin), Diana’s Temple and the Augustus Gate. In the heart of this unique heritage site, the Roman Games are an invitation to young and old alike to discover life in ancient times.

New for the Great Roman Games 2013:

1. A new theme: “The Triumph of Caesar”
Every year, a theme is chosen for a major historic re-enactment in the Arena, linking educational and performing aspects. The 2013 show is to stage a decisive episode in the Gallic War: the Battle of Alesia, which saw a clash between the Gallic coalition headed by Vercingetorix and Roman legions led by Caesar. We will see the surrender of Vercingetorix… and Caesar’s victory!

2. Venatio et damnatio ad bestias
In Ancient Rome, animal hunting shows with condemnation to wild beasts took place in the amphitheatre in the morning and at lunchtime. In the morning, professional hunters, specialising in fighting wild animals would enter the arena to fight these beasts. Lunchtime was devoted to putting to death thieves, brigands or rebellious slaves sentenced under common law. Among the many types of execution, some were delivered up to wild beasts. Contrary to normal belief, the people sentenced to death were not necessarily “thrown to the lions”. Since exotic beasts were very costly, Gallo-Romans tended to use the dangerous animals then roaming their forests. There will be two demonstrations at the Great Roman Games:
- the venator: a professional hunter fights a bear while chained to the animal.
- Noxius or damnatius ad bestias: a condemned prisoner is thrown to the wolves.

©M.Fasol

Culturespaces – PRODUCER OF THE GREAT ROMAN GAMES

“Our aim is to help public institutions present their heritage and develop their reputation in cultural circles and among tourists. We also aim to make access to culture more democratic and help our children discover our history and our civilisation in remarkable cultural sites”
Bruno Monnier, CEO and Founder of Culturespaces.
Culturespaces produces and manages, with an ethical and professional approach, monuments, museums and prestigious historic sites entrusted to it by public bodies and local authorities. With 20 years of experience and 2 million visitors every year, Culturespaces is the leading private organisation managing monuments and museums, and one of the leading European players in cultural tourism.
Culturespaces manages the following sites:
- Jacquemart-André Museum, Paris (since 1996)
- Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat (since 1992)
- Greek Villa Kerylos, Beaulieu sur Mer (since 2001)
- Carrières de Lumières (since 2012)
- Château des Baux-de-Provence (since 1993)
- Roman Theatre of Orange (since 2002)
- Nîmes Arena, the Square House, the Magne Tower (since 2006)
- Cité de l’Automobile, Mulhouse (since 1999)
- Cité du Train, Mulhouse (since 2005)
- Waterloo Battlefield, Belgium (since 2004)
Our heritage must be preserved for future generations: that is why every year Culturespaces contributes to financing restoration programmes for the monuments and collections it has been entrusted to look after. Culturespaces uses modern management methods in its work upgrading spaces and collections, welcoming the general public, managing staff and all services, organising cultural activities and temporary exhibitions and promoting sites at a national and international level. Culturespaces has obtained ISO 9001 certification for its quality management system.To ensure that visits are always a pleasure, the Culturespaces teams place quality of reception and cultural enrichment at the heart of all their services to visitors.
Moreover, the Culturespaces Foundation, created under the aegis of the Fondation du Patrimoine, has set itself the task of supporting initiatives that give children access to culture.

©M.Fasol

ACTION BY THE CULTURESPACES FOUNDATION IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE GREAT ROMAN GAMES

For the third year running the Culturespaces Foundation is setting up a major operation to provide access to the “Grands Jeux Romains” (Great Roman Games) event for children in deprived situations, unable to or prevented from participating in cultural activities.
On Saturday, 4 May 2013, close to 300 children from Nimes and the region will be invited to take part in the major historic re-enactment in the Nimes Arena.
This action is specifically for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Foundation will also welcome children being treated at the Nimes General Hospital and handicapped children with their parents. The Foundation’s objective is to enable all children to attend this remarkable cultural event.

Visit The Great Roman Games website