Circus MaximusCircus Maximus
Robert GottliebRobert Gottlieb
OriginsOrigins
• Founded by Tarquinius Priscus, 5th king of Rome, 6th century BCE
• Just a sandy track• 329 BCE – permanent
starting gates• Reconstructions under
Caesar and Augustus
The RacetrackThe Racetrack
• Circus – oval track Starting gates • Mappa – white flag Spina – spine• Metae – turning points Pulvinar - shrine• Linea alba –finish line
Track AdornmentsTrack Adornments
• Eggs and dolphins mark the laps
• 12 starting gates• Seats 150,000• Spring loaded
wooden door• 10 BCE – obelisk• AD 103 – Trajan
restores after fire
The RaceThe Race
• Pompa – ceremony before races
• Priests, musicians, and dancers lead racers and statues of gods and goddesses
• 7 laps, 4 miles• 24 races per day
The TeamsThe Teams
Naufragia - Naufragia - ShipwreckShipwreck
“Gaius Appuleius Diocles, charioteer of the Red Stable, a Spaniard by birth, aged 42 years 7 months 23 days. He drove chariots for 24 years, ran 4257 starts and won 1462 victories. He made 9 horses 100-time winners, and one a 200-time winner. The champion of all charioteers. He excelled the charioteers of all the stables who ever participated in the races of the circus games.”
Other UsesOther Uses
• Gladiator fights• Wild animal fights – unsafe with more seats • Athletics• Processions
A Dangerous SportA Dangerous Sport
• Racers wrap reins tightly• If a racer crashes…
RivalriesRivalries
• Factions hated each other• Curse tablets• Attempts to poison, dope, or perform
magic on hosrses.• "I adjure you, demon whoever you are, and I
demand of you from this hour, from this day, from this moment, that you torture and kill the horses of the Greens and Whites and that you kill in a crash their drivers..."
CorruptionCorruption
• Civilians would petition emperor during races• Caligula became unruly, threw people out of
arena
Last Race: AD 549Last Race: AD 549