I.a show, sight, spectacle (class.).
I. In gen.: “lepidum spectaculum,” Plaut. Poen. 1, 1, 81: “superarum rerum atque caelestium,” Cic. N. D. 2, 56, 140: “bis terque mutatae dapis,” Hor. Epod. 5, 34: “potius quam hoc spectaculum viderem,” Cic. Mil. 38, 103: capere oblatae spectacula praedae, Ov. M. 3, 246; cf. id. ib. 7, 780: “scorti procacis,” Liv. 39, 43: “Euripi,” id. 45, 27: “non hoc ista sibi tempus spectacula poscit,” Verg. A. 6, 37: “spectaclum ipsa sedens,” i. e. exposed to public view, in the sight of all, Prop. 4 (5), 8, 21. “neque hoc parentes Effugerit spectaculum,” Hor. Epod. 5, 102.—Esp. in the phrases: “spectaculum (alicui) praebere, spectaculum (spectaculo) esse alicui: circuitus solis et lunae spectaculum hominibus praebent,” Cic. N. D. 2, 62, 155; so, “praebere,” Liv. 45, 28: “praebent spectacula capti,” Ov. A. A. 2, 581: “o spectaculum illud hominibus luctuosum, cedere e patriā servatorem ejus, manere in patriā perditores!” Cic. Phil. 10, 4, 8; cf. id. Corn. 1, § 19: “homini non amico nostra incommoda spectaculo esse nolim,” id. Att. 10, 2, 2: “insequitur acies ornata armataque, ut hostium quoque magnificum spectaculum esset,” Liv. 10, 40 fin.—
II. In partic.
A. Lit., in the theatre, circus, etc., a public sight or show, a stageplay, spectacle (cf.: “munus, ludi, fabula): spectacula sunt tributim data,” Cic. Mur. 34, 72: “apparatissimum,” id. Phil. 1, 15, 36: “gladiatorium,” Liv. 39, 42: “gladiatorum,” id. 28, 21 fin.; Plin. 2, 26, 25, § 96: “circi,” Liv. 7, 2: “scenae,” Ov. A. A. 3, 351: “ludorum,” Suet. Aug. 14: “athletarum,” id. ib. 44; id. Ner. 12: “naumachiae,” id. Caes. 44: “nondum commisso spectaculo,” Liv. 2, 36, 1: “interesse spectaculo,” id. 2, 38, 4: “inter matutina harenae spectacula,” Sen. Ira, 3, 43, 2: “meridianum,” id. Ep. 7, 3.—
B. Transf., the place whence plays are witnessed, the seats of the spectators, seats, places in the theatre, the amphitheatre: “spectacula ruunt,” Plaut. Curc. 5, 2, 47: “ex omnibus spectaculis plausus est excitatus,” Cic. Sest. 58, 124: “resonant spectacula plausu,” Ov. M. 10, 668: “loca divisa patribus equitibusque, ubi spectacula sibi quisque facerent,” Liv. 1, 35, 8: “spectaculorum gradus,” Tac. A. 14, 13: “spectaculis detractus et in harenam deductus,” Suet. Calig. 35; id. Dom. 10.—
2. In gen., the theatre: “ingressum spectacula,” Suet. Calig. 35: “in caelum trabibus spectacula textis surgere,” Calp. Ecl. 7, 23.—
C. A wonder, miracle: spectacula septem, the seven wonders of the world: “in septem spectaculis nominari,” Vitr. 2, 8, 11: “numerari inter septem omnium terrarum spectacula,” Gell. 10, 18, 4.
