Report -History of Celerity

Celebrity is one of the dominant features of modern life and is

one of the least understood even if you love it or hate it.
Prime time TV is rife with stars clamouring to promote their
latest venture, and at the same time millions of fans clog up
cyberspace with websites paying homage to their hero
Magazines and newspapers are also bursting with them, from
A-List down to, well, bottom of the heap, and boost sales by
splashing stars across their front pages.
But back a thousand years, when getting noticed involved more
than just wearing a skimpy dress to the premire.
Thousands of years ago, one of the best ways to gain fame was
through title, such as a monarch, or to be a warrior whose
deeds had a direct impact on the lives of their fellow
countrymen.
This was not the only way to grab the attention masses and/or
be splash across the page of the history books. A few of the
first celebrities were winner s of the 'ancient' Olympic Games.
One of the best place and most know ancient celebrities was in
Ancient Rome as they advertised its most famous, powerful
inhabitants by imprinting their faces on coins and being
immortalised as sculptures or artworks.
In 44BC, Julius Caesar was the first Roman to appear on a coin
in his own lifetime, in a departure from the usual coin designs
which depicted his achievements and claims he was descended
from Venus.
During the same era, the Roman comic actor Quintus Roscius
Gallus, who was born into slavery, was boosted to equestrian
rank by Emperor Sulla as reward for his theatrical skills.

And his reputation lasted through to 19th Century, when the

epithet Roscius was still given to actors, as a mark of supreme
distinction.
Gladiators, whose bloodthirsty contests drew thousands of
spectators, also gained fame during the Roman era, despite
their notorious reputation as outlaws.
News of their battles spread by word of mouth, and boys
idolised them, often taking fighting lesson at gladiator schools,
while women were known to have affairs with the musclebound fighters.
Jumping forward in time to 1160, another now-famous figure,
Thomas Becket, was archdeacon of Canterbury and chancellor
of King Henry.
Becket became a martyr after being murdered in Canterbury
Cathedral, by four knights thought to be connected with the
king.
Pilgrimage: His name became known across Europe as news of
his murder spread, and the king - threatened with
excommunication - was forced to do public penance to keep his
throne.
This cemented Becket's fame, and his reputation as "father of
the poor and the comforter of the sorrowful" was spread by the
church and by word of mouth.
Pilgrims began to flock to the site of his death, and relics and
images of Becket became commonplace. Becket's story has
endured through to the modern day, and the cathedral draws
thousands of fascinated visitors to the spot where he was
murdered.
Poet TS Eliot wrote about his life and death in his famous play
Murder in the Cathedral in 1935, while a film, Becket, starring
Richard Burton, Peter O'Toole and Sir John Gielgud was made
in 1964.

By the time William Shakespeare - probably the West's most

famous literary figure - was on the scene between 1564 and
1616, times were changing.
And from there on not only did Britain have a very famous
woman - Elizabeth I - making history, there were also dramatic
shifts in science, religion and culture.
From the past to the present day and into the future there will
always be celebrities and fame.