Plebeians were average working citizens of Rome – farmers ... of state bribery that the writer Juvenal described as ‘bread and circuses’. Free grain and controlled food prices meant that ...

Although brutal at times, Juvenal’s writing brings Rome to life and some of his phrases – such as “bread and circuses” and “Who shall guard the guards?” – are still used today.

when Ancient Rome needed to distract itself from politics, a few solutions were suggested, but none hit the spot quite like the simple idea of giving the people cheap food and plentiful entertainment ...

Gerald Finley and Julia Bullock star in John Adams’s Antony and Cleopatra at the Metropolitan Opera. Photo: Karen Almond / ...