The Real Hunger Games

     The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is a trilogy, set in the futuristic society of Panem which is run by "The Capitol". Every year there is a "Hunger Games" where one female and one male from each of the twelve districts are chosen to compete in a battle to the death. This concept seems a little far fetched in our modern world today, however the true fabric of the story is woven with allusions to the culture and traditions of ancient Rome. 

     There are obvious connections made to the Roman Republic, such as the games themselves, forcing "tributes" to fight in specially designed arenas, being an allusion to the battles fought by gladiators in the Colosseum. The children forced to do these battles are given the same weapons any gladiator would have access to back in ancient Rome, such as spears, bows and arrows, and even tridents (the use of nets and tridents for fighting is a style the Roman's called Retiarius, which was the style Finnick Odair is famous for in the second book Catching Fire). The Capitol also fills its arenas with genetically engineered animals called "muttations" which the tributes are forced to fight, much like how many gladiators had to battle lions or other ferocious creatures in the Colosseum.

     As stated before, two "tributes" are chosen from each district to take part in each year's game. The word tribute, which is used to represent those elected to partake, refers to the Latin word "tributa" which is the term for taxes paid to the central government for protection. Furthermore, this type of taxation was one that was practiced throughout the Roman Republic. 

     Another Latin phrase which correlates distinctly with the entirety of Collins' series would be "Panem et Cirenses", meaning "Bread and Circuses". The word Panem is easily recognizable as the name of the nation which plays setting to the book series, and circuses refer to the games put on for amusement of the people of the Capitol. However, the phrase is more than that. Bread refers to the distribution of grains throughout the districts (or throughout the provinces of the Roman Empire), while circuses refers to public games and other mass spectacles which is solely for the entertainment of the Capitol (or the wealthy citizens of ancient Rome). Overall the Latin phrase refers to the techniques used by the Roman Empire in order to keep its people happy, docile, and not rebelling.

     Similar to the twelve districts distributed throughout Panem, the Roman Republic was made up of several provinces each with its own specialty (much like District Twelve was famous for its coal production, the Roman province in today's Egypt had a specialty for grains). The provinces of course were controlled by their capital city Rome, which is much like how the Capitol controls the districts. Each province was run by a capital appointed governor who had absolute power, similar to the mayor we see who is in charge of District Twelve. There are also stationed Roman troops in each province, which correlates with the entity of "Peacekeepers" in all of the districts. 

     The Capitol itself relates to the city of ancient Rome in many ways. The act of introducing the tributes of each district by chariot for example during the opening ceremonies of the games, resembles much like how gladiators would be driven around the streets of Rome in chariots on the days of their fights. People of the Capitol also seem to practice much of the Roman culture. Of course there is the enjoyment of the games, but there is also the practice of parties and feasts. There is even a reference in the second novel of a drink used to induce vomiting so one could continue to purge on delicacies at such events, which is something practiced in Roman culture. 

     I am sure there are many more allusions and references I can mention to help portray the nation Panem as a futuristic Roman Empire, but I feel like I have made my point. The Hunger Games was a fascinating and riveting trilogy that I could not put down, and its use of allusions made the story for me particularly even better. If you have yet to read this series, I highly suggest you do so, and see if you can spot the allusions to ancient Rome.

"May the odds be ever in your favor!"

(P.S. The phrase above which is said repeatedly throughout the entire series is a reference to how Roman culture valued luck, as well as how they believed that every individual from birth had a destiny or fate, and okay I'll stop now!)