"Bread and Circuses" is a second season episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, broadcast on March 15, 1968. It is episode #54, production #43, written by Gene Roddenberry, and Gene L. Coon, based on a story by John Kneubuhl, and directed by Ralph Senensky. Its name is a reference to the phrase "bread and circuses". Image from Star Trek: The Original Series episode Bread and Circuses © 1968 Paramount Pictures, produced by Gene Roddenberry. ... March 15 is the 74th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (75th in leap years). ... Year 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the 1968 Gregorian calendar. ... Screenwriters, scenarists or script writers, are authors who write the screenplays from which movies and television programs are made. ... A television director is usually responsible for directing the actors and other taped aspects of a television production. ... William Smithers is an American actor, probably best known for his recurring role in the television series Dallas as Jeremy Wendell. ... Logan C. Ramsey Jr. ... Ian Wolf is a American actor whose films date from 1934 to 1990. ... Rhodes Reason (born April 19, 1930 in Glendale, California) is an United States actor. ... Adam West as Bruce Wayne and Gil Perkins as Bluebeard from Batman. ... Eddie Paskey-is an actor who is primarily known for playing the uncredited Lieutenant Leslie in the original Star Trek. ... William Blackburn was the leading prison architect of the Georgian Era. ... Roger Holloway is an American television actor who portrayed the recurring character Lt. ... Frank da Vinci is a stuntman and stand-in who appeared on Star Trek: The Original Series. ... This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... The Ultimate Computer is a season two episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, first broadcast on March 8, 1968 and repeated June 28, 1968. ... The starship Enterprise as it appeared on Star Trek Star Trek is a culturally significant science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry in the 1960s. ... March 15 is the 74th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (75th in leap years). ... Year 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the 1968 Gregorian calendar. ... Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Gene Roddenberry Eugene Wesley Roddenberry (August 19, 1921 – October 24, 1991) was an American scriptwriter and producer. ... Gene L. Coon (7 January 1924-8 July 1973) was an American screenwriter and television producer. ... Bread and circuses has come to be a derogatory phrase that can criticize either government policies to pacify the citizenry, or the shallow, decadent desires of that same citizenry. ...

Overview: Captain Kirk and his companions are forced to fight in gladiatorial games on a planet modeled after the Roman Empire. Captain James T. Kirk James Tiberius Kirk, a fictional character in the Star Trek television series, was the captain of the starship Enterprise (NCC-1701 and NCC-1701-A). ... Motto Senatus Populusque Romanus (SPQR) The Roman Empire at its greatest extent. ...

Plot

On stardate 4040.7, the starship USS Enterprise, commanded by Captain James T. Kirk, is on routine patrol when it encounters the wreckage of the SS Beagle, a survey vessel lost six years earlier. The Beagle was under the command of Captain R.M. Merrik, whom Kirk knew during his academy days. First Officer Spock traces the path of debris back to the ship's point of origin, near the fourth planet in the previously unexplored FGC 892 System. This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... One of the fictional ships called the Starship Enterprise from Star Trek, one of the most famous fictional starships. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The SS Beagle was a Federation Class-4 stardrive survey vessel, in operation during the mid-23rd century. ... The official logo of Starfleet Academy, circa 2370. ... For other uses, see Spock (disambiguation). ...

The Enterprise soon picks up an old-style television broadcast, with black and white video footage of what appears to be a Roman gladiatorial fight in an arena. One of the killed gladiators is named as William Harrison, who is identified by records as one of the Beagle's flight crew.

Kirk forms a landing party, consisting of himself, Mr. Spock, and chief medical officer, Dr. McCoy, and beams down to the planet to investigate. Soon afterward they are captured by rifle-toting men who are revealed to be escaped slaves. They bring the party before their leader Septimus. The party say they are "men of peace" and Septimus asks them if they are "children of the sun". The party reply the crew represent many beliefs. Septimus says he was a former Senator until he heard the "words of the sun" and was made a slave. Although another slave, Flavius, suggests killing the landing party, Septimus overrules him, decides the landing party poses no threat and shows them hospitality. Dr. Leonard H. McCoy (nicknamed Bones), played by DeForest Kelley, is a character in the original Star Trek series, and the first six Star Trek films. ...

As Kirk pages through a gladiatorial magazine, he astounded to find the cultural development of 892 IV, called "Magna Roma" by the inhabitants, is so similar to that of the ancient Roman Empire back in Earth's history, but mixed with mid 20th Century technology. He refers to Hodgkin's Law, and the theory of Parallel Planet Development, where the two worlds developed the same but somehow the Roman Empire never fell, and took over the world. McCoy doesn't understand why they all worship the Sun however, since (he states incorrectly), Ancient Rome "had no Sun worshippers." Adjectives: Terrestrial, Terran, Telluric, Tellurian, Earthly Atmosphere Surface pressure: 101. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999... Coin of Emperor Probus, circa 280, with Sol Invictus riding a quadriga, with legend SOLI INVICTO, to the undefeated Sun. Note how the Emperor (on the left) wears a radiated solar crown, worn also by the god (to the right). ...

Kirk also finds uncanny similarities in one of the culture's leaders; Merricus the First Citizen of the Empire, to Captain Merrik of the Beagle and believes they are one and the same. Kirk explains to some of the slaves that he wants to meet this Merricus. Flavius then offers to help and leads Kirk to Rome; the capital city. The landing team puts on slaves uniforms, (grey tee-shirts with a chain symbol on the chest), and tries to sneak into the city. Along the way, Flavius explains how he was once the greatest gladiator until he too heard the words of the Sun. The way of the Sun involves a bond of brotherhood and a commitment to peace; it was hard for a fighter to accept, but "the words were true." Pollice Verso (With a Turned Thumb), an 1872 painting by Jean-Léon Gérôme, is a well known history painters researched conception of a gladiatorial combat. ...

They are soon captured by Roman guards (who appear like a police state riot squad), and are placed into the slave pens. Kirk asks Flavius about the culture's institution of slavery. He discovers that a slave who performs well earns health benefits and if he survives long enough, is also compensated in the end with retirement benefits and prestige. McCoy and Spock get into another argument about logic and Flavius asks if the two are enemies. Kirk replies "I'm not sure they're sure." Kirk asks Flavius how long ago the slaves started worshipping the Sun and Flavius says as long ago as the founding of the empire. A police state is a political condition where the government maintains strict control over society, particularly through suspension of civil rights and often with the use of a force of secret police. ... Logic, from Classical Greek λόγος logos (meaning word, account, reason or principle), is the study of the principles and criteria of valid inference and demonstration. ...

Later, the landing party makes an escape attempt while the guards lead them to meet Merricus. Merricus however, has anticipated their escape and has forces waiting to apprehend them. Once again, the party is taken prisoner and they stand before Merricus and the Proconsul Claudius Marcus who dismiss the guards and invite the landing team to sit and talk in private.

There, Merricus admits that he is Captain Merrik. He explains his ship was severely damaged in a meteor shower and he stopped at 892 IV for repairs. When he beamed down, he met Claudius Marcus who demanded that word of the planet's culture not be divulged to the Federation for risk of cultural contamination. Merrik decided to stay and put whatever crewmen who refused to remain behind into the gladiatorial pits where they would certainly be killed. Merrik then informs Kirk that word of the planet's society must not leak off the world, and that the Enterprise crew must also remain behind. He tells Kirk to order the crew to abandon the ship and integrate into Magna Roma's culture. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Although he is threatened at gunpoint by armed guards, Kirk refuses Merrik's demands and instead he radios Mr. Scott a "condition green"; indicating he's in trouble, but to not attempt a rescue. Angered, Marcus sends Spock and McCoy into the arena for Kirk's defiance. Scotty redirects here. ...

Spock and McCoy must face off against Flavius and another gladiator, Achilles, under a set of studio lights, television cameras, and an obviously fake backdrop of a Roman combat arena. The whole scene looks more like a violent game show. The battle begins as Spock quickly overpowers his opponent, and when McCoy is in trouble, Spock nerve pinches his assailant ending the fight to a hail of boos and hisses from a "pre-recorded" crowd. Spock and McCoy are taken back to the slave pens and Kirk is taken to stand execution which will be televised live. Spock performs the Vulcan nerve pinch on a Red Shirt during a fight from And the Children Shall Lead As used in the fictional Star Trek universe, the Vulcan nerve pinch is a technique used mainly by Vulcans to render another lifeform unconscious by pinching the base of the victim...

Kirk goes to his room where a woman, Drusilla, is waiting for him and says she is his slave. Elsewhere, Spock and McCoy are placed in another cell. McCoy tries to thank Spock for saving him in the arena, but Spock shrugs him off. McCoy tells Spock he really does care, but is just afraid to show it. Kirk meanwhile, eats and talks with Drusilla and then goes to bed with her. Marcus later explains that he arranged it all because he respects Kirk as a real man, equal to the Romans, and wanted him to enjoy his last hours as a man.

In the meantime, Mr. Scott works on a way to disrupt power and communications on the planet while obeying the Prime Directive not to interfere with a planet's society. He blacks out the city just before Kirk's execution. In the diversion, Kirk frees Spock and McCoy but is soon captured again. Merrik however, does something unexpected, and radios the Enterprise to have Kirk and his party beamed back. Before he can complete the message, Marcus kills him for his treachery. Scotty understands the message and the landing party dematerializes just as they face a hail of machine gun fire. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ...

Back on the ship, Kirk commends Scotty. Spock expresses curiosity to Kirk and McCoy as to why the slave "Sun" worshipers seemed to adhere to a philosophy of peace; again incorrectly, Spock says that in most societies sun-worship is a primitive religion of superstition, with no philosophy behind it. Uhura, who's been monitoring radio transmissions from the planet, informs them that the worshippers are actually referring to a "Son," rather than "Sun," as in, "the Son of God." Kirk replies in realization: "Caesar ... and Christ; they had them both," referring to a historical figure of war, and a historical, messianic figure of peace, making obvious note of the continued parallels of this planet's history to Earth history. Kirk remarks that it would be interesting to observe this period of time on the planet below. Uhura, played by Nichelle Nichols, is a character in Star Trek: The Original Series and the first six Star Trek films. ... Gaius Julius Caesar [1] (Latin pronunciation ; English pronunciation ; July 12 or July 13, 100 BC or 102 BC–March 15, 44 BC), was a Roman military and political leader and one of the most influential men of classical antiquity. ... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ...

40th Anniversary remastering

This episode was re-mastered in 2006 and was first aired June 2, 2007 as part of the remastered 40th Anniversary original series. It was preceded a week earlier by the remastered version of "Shore Leave" and followed a week later by the remastered version of "Spock's Brain". Aside from remastered video and audio, and the all-CGI animation of the Enterprise that is standard among the revisions, specific changes to this episode also include: For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... June 2 is the 153rd day of the year (154th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Spocks Brain is a third season episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, first broadcast September 20, 1968. ...

• The planet Magna Roma has been changed to appear more Earth-like. It has also been given two moons.
• The two moons have been added to the blue sky during the establishing "beam in" sequence.
• Bullet holes now appear in the prison cell wall after the guards try to machine gun the landing party as they beam away.

Review of the remastered "Bread and Circuses" at TrekMovie.com

Notes

• Ironically, this episode aired on March 15th - the Ides of March.
• Some fans have speculated that Captain R.M. Merrik was gay, based on a reference made by Marcus right before he kills him, about the Captain not being a "real man." This might tie into the ancient Roman view of homosexuality. However, the straightforward reading would simply be that Marcus despises Merrik as a weakling and coward (for allowing himself to be dictated to and having his crew killed off).
• A blooper from this episode contains perhaps the most hilarious misspoken line in Star Trek history. The director of the television broadcast was supposed to say, "If they refuse to move out on cue, skewer them!" Instead, he said, "screw them!"
• Claudius Marcus' insignia is actually not that of the Roman Empire — Romulus and Remus above SPQR — but is the coat of arms of William Shakespeare.
• This episode, along with "The Paradise Syndrome", "Wink of an Eye" and "The Mark of Gideon" possibly insinuates that Captain Kirk has had sex between scenes as the Proconsul claims he gave Captain Kirk one final moment "as a man" after we see Kirk asleep following an implied romantic encounter (with Drusilla the slave girl).
• Supposedly this is a planet based on earth's Roman Empire-yet the people speak English. The Languages of the real Roman Empire were Latin and Greek.
• Doctor McCoy is incorrect that the Romans had no Sun gods. Worship of Apollo was common in Rome, and worship of the sun god Mithras competed with early Christianity.
• The guns the Roman guards wielded were similar to the Danish "Madsen Model 1950". A common submachinegun used in TV and movies at the time.
• One of the clearest definitions of the Prime Directive is given in the episode after Kirk, Spock and McCoy beam down.
• The world of Magna Roma was revisited on the printed page, in the Pocket Books published Star Trek: The Next Generation novel "The Captain's Honor" in late 1989 [ISBN 0-671-68487-6].

Vincenzo Camuccini, Mort de César, 1798. ... Roman cameo portrayal of man and youth Roman attitudes toward same-sex relations varied over time. ... This page describes the ancient heroes who founded the city of Rome. ... The inscription in the Arch of Titus Modern coat of arms of Rome Manhole cover in Rome with SPQR inscription SPQR is an initialism from a Latin phrase, Senatus Populusque Romanus (The Senate and the Roman people), referring to the government of the ancient Roman Republic, and used as an... A modern coat of arms is derived from the medi val practice of painting designs onto the shield and outer clothing of knights to enable them to be identified in battle, and later in tournaments. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... The Paradise Syndrome is a third season episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, and was broadcast October 4, 1968. ... Wink of an Eye is a third season episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, and was broadcast on November 29, 1968. ... The Mark of Gideon is a third season episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, and was broadcast on January 17, 1969. ... Motto Senatus Populusque Romanus (SPQR) The Roman Empire at its greatest extent. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Latin is an ancient Indo-European language originally spoken in Latium, the region immediately surrounding Rome. ... Lycian Apollo, early Imperial Roman copy of a fourth century Greek original (Louvre Museum) In Greek and Roman mythology, Apollo (Ancient Greek , Apóllōn; or , Apellōn), the ideal of the kouros (a beardless youth), was the archer-god of medicine and healing, light, truth, archery and also a... Mithras and the Bull: fresco from the mithraeum at Marino, Italy, (3rd century AD) Mithras was the central god of Mithraism, a syncretic Hellenistic mystery religion of male initiates that developed in the Eastern Mediterranean in the 2nd and 1st centuries BC and was practiced in the Roman Empire from... Christianity percentage by country, purple is highest, orange is lowest Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... The title as it appeared in most episodes opening credits. ...

External links

• Bread and Circuses at StarTrek.com

"Bread and Circuses" entry at Memory Alpha: A Star Trek Wiki
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