Brot und Spiele

The festival takes place at two of the city's Roman monuments: the Amphitheatre hosts theatre performances that include many gladiator fights and the Imperial Baths are used to display the civil and military life in the vicus.

Under the motto "Brot und Spiele – Antikes (Er)leben im Amphitheater", the Rheinisches Landesmuseum Trier organised a large campaign weekend as part of the Rhineland-Palatinate cultural summer event series, which presented an ancient arena spectacle according to scientific findings.

The range of events extended to four locations: The "Spectaculum", a spectacle in connection with real gladiator fights, was performed against the historical backdrop of the amphitheater.

Since 2009, the Spectaculum has been telling a sequel from the "Arena zu Trier" at the time of Emperor Mark Aurelius with recurring characters.

In the evening, during the "Mystical Night", the underground passages of the Kaiserthermen were staged with sound and light installations as well as dance performances.

Accompanying this, a "Roman lounge" with live music invited young people in particular to visit the thermal baths in the evening.