Agonistic festivals, Roman Empire

Agonistic festivals flourished in the Roman period. Building on an old Greek tradition, they constituted an empire-wide network. They were closely bound up with social, cultural and political life at local levels, where they served the self-presentation of cities and their ruling elites. Festivals also played a part in spreading the imperial message. They remained a popular feature of life until Late Antiquity when the agonistic festivals disappear for a variety of reasons