Circus Maximus essays

Circus Maximus essays The Romans built massive structures for the public use of Roman citizens, and the circuses were only one example of these massive buildings. The circuses, structures designed in a circle or course for chariots, were primarily designed built to house chariot races and other public entertainments (Circus- Roma 1).These were copies of the Greek hippodromes (Laing 1). The Circus Maximus, one of the four tracks built in Rome, was a location where chariot racing, gladiatorial combats, wild animal hunts, athletic events, processions, and Christian massacres took place (Grout 2 ). Tarquinius Priscus, the fifth king of Rome, built this structure in the sixth century BC. This original circus was probably built between the Aventine and Palatine Hills (Grout 1). Later additions and improvements by Julius Caesar and Agrippa made the arena so large that it could seat 150,000 people. The circus was equipped with a spina (barrier) decorated with Egyptian obelisks, columns and seven large wooden eggs and dolphins to marks the laps for the charioteers. As the race proceeded, the one dolphin and one egg would be removed to inform the spectators of the number of laps that had passed in the race (Monuments 1). Seating in the arena was arranged around a dirt track and permanent starting gates were built for the horses. According to Dionysius of Halicarnassus, there were entrances and ascents for the spectators at every shop so that the countless thousands of peoples may enter and depart without inconvenience (Grout 1). People could browse and shop in the tabernae, in habited by cooks, astrologers, and prostitutes(Grout 2). The chariot races in the Circus Maximus were run on seventeen of the seventy-seven public games days allotted in Rome (Grout 2). By a drawing of lots, drivers were given the slot in which to start and had to stay in that area until a point was reached on the course. The chariot, or quadrigae, was pulled by...