Circus Maximus

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