Leisure and Performance

Gladiatorial games were of particular importance in Córdoba and the museum houses the world's second most important collection of gladiatorial epigraphy, surpassed only by that in Rome. This suggests that the Ludus Hispanianus—the only gladiatorial school in the Iberian Peninsula—may have been located in the city. Archaeological evidence that reveals all about the complex world of the gladiatorial arena has been found in Córdoba, including evidence of animal tamers ("vestiarius"), gatekeepers ("ostiarius"), trainers ("instiror armorum"), games promoters and, of course, all kinds of gladiators, including ones from abroad. Córdoba's amphitheater was located outside the city walls, on the site of the university's former veterinary faculty.

The theater in Roman Córdoba was where the Archaeological Museum now stands. Its remains, preserved in the basement level of the museum's extension, are now open to the public. Built in the first century, it was the largest theater in Hispania, with room for 15,000 spectators. A circular gallery joined the whole building, with "vomitoria" (passages) running towards the orchestra, dividing the auditorium into 6 "cunei" (triangular-shaped sections). They were covered with blocks of stone and "opus caementicium" (Roman concrete) and the stands were built on top of them, in white marble. It stopped being used in the 4th century and was plundered over a period of time, meaning that only the building's infrastructure has survived.

The theater, a place of leisure and recreation, also reflected the divisions in Roman society: the proedria was reserved for senators, the ima cavea for knights, the media cavea for free citizens, and the summa cavea for the freedmen and slaves. At the back was the matroneo, for women. This piece bears an inscription that alludes to the post of dissignator, which was an usher of sorts, whose role was to arrange funeral processions, inspect public games, and assign seats in the theater. The inscription reads: Titus Servius Clarus, freedman of Titus, and usher. Lies here. May the earth rest lightly upon him.

Fragment of a relief of a female figure which has been identified as the goddess Victoria, the Roman equivalent of the Greek goddess Nike. This relief may have formed part of the decorative sculptures in Colonia Patricia's Roman theater, although it is also possible that it was a commemorative monument, made to emulate the decorations in the Theater of Marcellus in Rome.

This item belonged to theater premises. It may have been the keystone in one of the arches used to access the theater building in Colonia Patricia.

This theatrical mask may have been part of a funerary monument in which theatrical masks were combined with geometric motifs. It would have served for two purposes in a funerary monument: first, warding off evil and protecting the soul of the deceased from evil spirits; and second, atonement, to guarantee the deceased a new, joyful existence as a member of the Dionysian retinue.

Architectural relief depicting a theatrical mask featuring the god Pan, which may have had a decorative function. These masks of figures from the Dionysian entourage were hung between the columns of the peristyle. They are decorative household objects with a protective function.

Fragment of an oscillum featuring the head of a griffin and the face of a satyr at one end, in the form of a theatrical mask. The opposite side is a tragic theatrical mask. These types of plaques were used as decoration in household gardens, placed at the top of small columns or hanging from porticoes. They reflect the importance of the theater in the daily life of Roman citizens.

There is not much in the way of evidence of games and leisure in Muslim Córdoba. Archaeological finds have revealed objects relating to the leisure activities of individuals. These traces provide information about the importance of music at celebrations, playing chess, street entertainment, children's games, and the consumption of hashish. This ceramic doll is a male figure carrying a kind of drum, which is a sign that the people of Al-Andalus enjoyed music.

This object, made from bone, is one of several that are thought to be chess pieces, although they may also be knife hilts or spindle holders. The game of chess originated in India, although it was introduced to the West by the Arabs. It seems likely that chess arrived in Al-Andalus in around the 9th century (possibly brought by the famous musician Ziryab) and became more widespread in Córdoba under the Caliphs.

Music was one of the most popular leisure activities in Al-Andalus. The scene depicted in this piece was believed to be a group of musicians, but it looks more like a group of street performers that includes musicians, acrobats, and actors. It offers a valuable record of daily life in Córdoba under the Caliphs.

This capital is a unique object, since it has figurative anthropomorphic decoration on both sides. It depicts musicians carrying 3 stringed instruments and one wind instrument, including variants of the oud family, which was the predecessor to today's lute. The stringed instrument is a kamman which is related to today's violin and played with a bow. Music evolved a great deal in Al-Andalus, especially with the new ideas introduced by Ziryab in the mid-9th century. It was an essential part of celebrations, and lute players and singers were very highly regarded by the royal courts.

Whistles have been classified as toys and it is thought that they may have been used for some kind of ritual to ward off evil spirits.

This object tells us about the habit of smoking tobacco, hashish, and other plants derived from Indian hemp. It is not known for sure when it was introduced into Al-Andalus, but its use continued into the Nasrid and Christian periods. Some sources also show that it was used medicinally.

Everyday objects such as children's toys are also found in archaeological records. This animal-shaped figure is part of the games tradition surrounding the Nayruz (or Nowruz) festival in Al-Andalus, which originated in Persia and seems to have coincided with the first day of the year or with Epiphany. A traditional part of the celebrations was to give children ceramic toys in the shape of people or animals (horses, dogs, fish, reptiles, etc.). These kinds of figures were common in households in the Islamic world, and important examples have been found in Muslim Córdoba.