- The Circus of Nero, also known as the Circus of Caligula, is now under St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, Rome.
- It was started by Caligula in 40 CE, and completed by Claudius.
Vaticano Obelisk
- The Vaticano Obelisk stood on the spina until it was moved to St Peter’s Square in 1586 CE.
- An Obelisk was placed on the Spina of the Circus by Caligula.
- The huge vessel that brought it from Egypt was sunk to form an island between the two moles of the harbour at Portus, and a Lighthouse built upon it.
Christian Martyrs
- In 65 CE, the first Public Executions of Christians took place here.
- Jerome (347-420 CE) states that St. Peter was martyred by being crucified upside down in Rome.
- This is traditionally thought to have occurred in 67 CE under the Emperor Nero (54-68 CE), soon after the Great Fire of Rome (64 CE) CE, in the Circus of Nero.
- Tacitus describes the crucifixion of Christians in the circus of Nero in Annals’ XV.44.
St. Peter’s Basilica (location of the Circus of Nero)