Circus Maximus

The Circus Maximus was the Roman Empire’s largest Circus or Hippodrome (from the Greek ‘hippos’ meaning horse and ‘dromos’ meaning race).
It could seat 250,000 spectators and hosted the Roman Chariot Races. The site today is a Public Park.

Already in existence under the Kings of Ancient Rome (753-510 BCE), wooden stands and seating were introduced by the fifth King, Lucius Tarquinius Priscus (616-579 BCE).
It was further developed under the Roman Republic, and by the 190’s BCE, there was stone seating for the Senators.
By 174 BCE the laps were counted by Eggs (symbol of Castor and Pollux, the Patron of Horses), and by 33 BCE the Egg Lap counters were replaced by Bronze Dolphins.
In 10 BCE, Augustus placed the Egyptian Flaminio Obelisk on the central dividing barrier, The Spina.
He also placed, high up behind the seating, a Pulvinar, a platform on which various Gods were placed to watch over the Races.
In 64 CE A fire broke out in the stands and shops of the semi-circular end and then spread into City of Rome.
Trajan (98-117 CE), finally rebuilt the entire Circus in stone.
In 357 CE Constantius II placed the Lateran Obelisk on the Spina.
The last known Venatio or Beast Hunt was held in 523 CE.
The last known Race was held by Totila in 549 CE.

Shops.
- At street level on the outside there were multiple arches all around the Circus, which held all sorts of shops, bars and eating places.
Entry.
- Entry was free, and through multiple entrances. Unlike the Colosseum, men, women, children and slaves were all permitted.
Seating.
- It had a seating capacity for of up to 250,000 spectators, according to Pliny the Elder. Eventually, the Emperors built their own box.
The Pulvinar
- Behind the seating Augustus built a platform with statues of the Roman Gods overlooking the Track. Over the centuries, more shrines and temples to other Gods were added.
The Track.
- It had a Track length of 2,037 ft (621m) and width of 387 ft (118m), and was semi-circular at one end.
- The Races were run anti-clockwise, in a continuation of the Ancient Greek tradition of chariot racing.
Starting Gates.
- At the square end, there were 12 starting gates arranged in an arc.
The Spina.
- A 10ft (3m) high central barrier called the ‘Spina’ divided the track.
- At both ends of the Circus were conical pylons around which the Chariots turned, which was where the majority of accidents occurred.
- In 33 BCE, large bronze dolphins were introduced as lap counters, positioned for greatest visibility high above the central dividing barrier.
Obelisks.
- In 10 BCE, Augustus installed the Flaminio Obelisk on the Spina.
- In 357 CE, Constantius II placed the Lateran Obelisk on the Spina.

Performances.
- Commemorating important events in the Roman Empire. This included mock naval battles for which the Circus would be flooded.
Horse Races.
Roman Chariot Races or ‘Ludi Circenses’.

In the Roman Circus usually only 4 teams of Charioteers competed, unlike the Greek Hippodromes which had 10 or more teams. Other events, however, could see up to 12 teams competing. This would produce great pile-ups at the tight bends.

The four teams were known by their colours: The Blue Team, The Red Team, The Green Team and the White Team, and the fans of each team wore their team’s colours.
The teams were sponsored by wealthy businesses who invested heavily in training drivers, chariots and equipment, horses and stables.
Each team had two to four horses, occasionally there were races with 3 or 6 horse chariots

There could be up to 20 chariot races a day.
The Race consisted of 7 circuits, a total distance of around 2.5 miles (4km)
There were 12 starting boxes behind the start gate, with the starter sat above. Drivers cast lots to be given their starting positions.
The Charioteers raced at great speeds and fatal accidents were frequent. Simply being thrown from the chariot could kill the driver. As the reins were wound around the charioteers hands, if his chariot was overturned, he would be dragged along the ground by the team of horses.
A 10ft (3m) high central barrier called the ‘Spina’ divided the track.
At both ends of the Circus were posts around which the Chariots turned, which was where the majority of accidents occurred.
In 33 BCE, large bronze dolphins were introduced as lap counters, positioned for greatest visibility high above the central dividing barrier.
The winning charioteer could win up to 60,000 sesterces for a single race (a Legionary’s annual pay was 1,200 sesterces) and be presented by the Emperor with a Laurel Wreath.
There were prizes for being First, Second and Third.

Gaius Appuleius Diocles
- The most famous Roman Charioteer.
Pompeius Musclosus
- He won the most races: 3,599.
Gutta Calpurnianus
- A Freedman, also had a funerary monument in his honour.
Crescens
- A Moor who raced for the Greens, he also had a monument in his honour.

IMDb Ben Hur 2016
- Jack Huston as Judah Ben Hur and Tony Kebbell as Messala and directed by Timur Bekmambetov.
- The film has a ten minute Chariot Race scene, as did the two previous movies, which was filmed in Rome’s Cinecitta Studios using sets.
IMDb Ben Hur 1959
- Charlton Heston as Judah Ben Hur and Stephen Boyd as Messala and directed by William Wyler.
- The film is noted for its ten minute Chariot Race scene. The entire movie was filmed in Rome’s Cinecitta Studios using sets, including the Roman Circus scene.
IMDb Ben Hur 1925
- A silent movie, Directed by Fred Niblo.
- It has a ten minute Chariot Race scene, which was reproduced almost exactly in the 1959 film version.

Circus Maximus