Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Ludus

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

LUDUS. Literally, a game, sport, or pastime, more especially such as were invented for the purpose of assisting to develop the powers of the mind or body; whence the same name is given to the place where the necessary discipline or exercises were gone through, which all attainments, whether intellectual or physical, require.

1. Ludus literarius, or simply ludus (διδασκαλεῖον). A school for the instruction of youth, to which the children of both sexes and all classes were sent when old enough, public education being thought preferable amongst the ancients as well as ourselves, to private tuition. (Festus s. Schola. Cic. Fam. ix. 18. Plaut. Pers. ii. 1. 6. Id. Merc. ii. 2. 32.) The illustration (Ludus/1.1) represents the interior of a school-room at Herculaneum, from a painting discovered in that city, in which both boys and girls are taught together, as in Martial ix. 69.

2. Ludus gladiatorius. An establishment in which a company of gladiators were trained and taught the practice of their art, under the instruction of the Lanista. Suet. Jul. 31. Caes. B. C. i. 14.

3. Ludus fidicinus. A school in which instrumental music was taught. Plaut. Rud. Prol. 43.

4. Ludus Trojae. The Trojan game; a sort of review or sham-fight exhibited by young persons of good family on horseback. Tac. Ann. xi. 11. Suet. Aug. 43. Virg. Aen. v. 448 — 587); also called DECURSIO, which see; the medal used to illustrate that word bears the inscription DECURSIO LUDUS TROJÆ.

5. Ludus latrunculorum. A game of skill having considerable resemblance to our draughts; described s. LATRO 2.

6. Ludus duodecim scriptorum. A game of skill approximating to our backgammon. See ABACUS, 2.

7. Under the general name ludi the Romans also included chariot-races, gladiatorial combats, and theatrical representations, which were exhibited on certain festivals in honour of the gods, or given by wealthy individuals as an entertainment to the public.

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  Ludus/1.1