De Spectaculis: The Shows cover art

De Spectaculis: The Shows

Lighthouse Church Fathers

Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 months free
Try for £0.00
£8.99/mo thereafter. Renews automatically. Terms apply. Offer ends 31 July 2025 at 23:59 GMT.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for £8.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.

De Spectaculis: The Shows

By: Tertullian
Narrated by: Claire Green
Try for £0.00

£8.99/mo after 3 months. Offer ends 31 July 2025 23:59 GMT. Cancel monthly.

Buy Now for £6.99

Buy Now for £6.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.
Cancel

About this listen

The Shows or De Spectaculis, also known as On the Spectacles, is a treatise by Tertullian. Written somewhere between AD 197-202, the work comments on issues and consequences related to the attendance of circus, theatre, or amphitheater ("the pleasures of public shows").

Tertullian’s views of these public performances in the theatre are that they are immoral and lead to corruption. Tertullian argues that spectacles are derived from pagan ritual rites (the Liberalia, the Consualia, the Equiria, the Bacchanalia, etc.). The performances only excite the crowd which leads to “spiritual agitation”. This work gives insight into the ancient world of the theatre and circus and how Christians should avoid their allure.

Public Domain (P)2021 Lighthouse Publishing
Christianity Theatre
No reviews yet