Euergetism

Euergetism, formed after the Greek verb εὐεργετέω means as much as domination through festivals, gifts or charity, so the socio-cultural or political domination principle by bread and circuses for the (often misunderstood ) characterized by Juvenal Latin phrase panem et circuses.

Especially in the Hellenistic and the Roman Empire during the euergetism was especially in the cities of the eastern Mediterranean is of utmost importance. Powerful and wealthy members of the community councils underlined by foundations - games or cereal donations - and non-profit buildings - such as baths, theaters and aqueducts - its claim to leadership in each polis. The foundations were thus also a reflection of aristocratic rivalry. The biggest benefactor of the Roman Empire was therefore logical to the emperor. During late antiquity the euergetism then lost its importance, which was a factor that contributed to the change of the cityscape. Nevertheless, there were still in the 6th century aristocrats, the feasts and buildings - now often churches - donated; only with the final demise of the classical city at the end of antiquity was this tradition to an end.

The modern term Évergétisme was by the historian André Boulanger (1886-1958) introduced in connection with the edition of Tertullian's De spectaculis (1933 ) for the rule of charity. As a socio- cultural phenomenon, the euergetism covers in certain areas with the Indian gift hard potlatch, which is similarly practiced by the Maori as Koha, as Kula in the Milne Bay Province and as Moka at the Melpa - speakers in the Western Highlands of Papua New Guinea.