The Circus Maximus: Rome's Ancient Racing Arena
Submitted by Andy_B on Monday, 25 September 2023 Page Views: 572
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Its Early History
The Circus Maximus is comfortably nestled between the Palatine and Aventine hills and is considered to be the oldest and biggest public space in Rome. According to legend, it was constructed back in the 6th century BC, during the reign of the very first Roman kings. However, the distinctive layout that it has today is thanks to Julius Caesar himself.Its main function at first was as a chariot racetrack and to act as a venue for the Roman Games, which was an annual event in honour of the Roman God, Jupiter. These games, held every September, lasted for 15 days, filled with chariot races and military processions. The Circus also hosted lots of other games and events - wild animal hunts, gladiator fights and even public executions. In fact, it even played host to the legendary showdown between barbarian gladiators and 20 elephants, orchestrated by Pompey.
Arena Dimensions and Features
During its peak in the 1st century CE, after the reconstruction of 64 CE when it was engulfed in a huge fire, the Circus Maximus had the capacity to accommodate up to 250,000 spectators, but these seats were very basic - made up of concrete and stone in the lower tiers and wood in the upper sections.The exterior of the arena included arcades, where spectators could find all different types of shops catering to their needs. The Roman architectural historian, Vitrivius, also mentioned that there was a temple, adorned with gilded bronze and terracotta statues, dedicated to Ceres within the Circus.
The main features of the Circus Maximus included:
• The sand racetrack, originally measuring 540 x 80 metres.
• 12 starting gates (carceres) arranged in an arc at the open end of the track.
• A decorated barrier (spina) which had obelisks running down the centre of the track.
• Conical turning posts (metae) at each end of the track.
• Lap markers, shaped like eggs and dolphins, were used to signal the end of each of the seven circuits that a typical race included.
Chariot Races
Just as we enjoy horse racing today, chariot races at the Circus Maximus were a serious form of entertainment in Rome . Whilst these days, you simply turn on the TV to watch a horse race and head over to get the now latest odds on Boylesports , the Romans would head over to the Circus Maximus, where they could watch the events live - and make bets on the winner in the old-fashioned way.Each of the chariots were colour-coded - red, white, green and blue and would be drawn by teams of 4, 6, 8, or even 12 horses. Those who won the races would receive some serious cash prizes as well as adoration from those spectating, especially from anyone who had made - and won a big bet. Some of the most successful racers included Pontius Epaphroditus, Pompeius Musclosus and Diocles. However, it was Scorpus, with over 2,000 wins, that truly became a legend.
Later Uses and Rediscovery
The Circus Maximus held its last official chariot race in 549 CE. After that, the site was pretty much abandoned, although the Frangipani family did attempt to fortify it in 1144 CE. However, the first excavations didn’t begin until 1587 CE, which uncovered two obelisks that were originally part of the spina.Later on, in the 19th century, the site was more industrial and included gas works. However, in the 1930s, the area was totally cleared and turned into a park that was designed to resemble the original layout of the Circus. Further excavations took place in 1930 and then between 1978 and 1988 - where some of the original seats, starting gates and the spina were uncovered.
This incredible site remains a source of discovery, excavation and entertainment to this day,
