Circuses of Ancient Rome

• The Roman Circus was the equivalent of the Ancient Greek Hippodrome where horse races and chariot races took place.
• The biggest Roman Circus was the Circus Maximus in Rome where regular Chariot Races took place.

The Circuses of Rome

• Circus Maximus
  • Rome’s largest Hippodrome for Chariot Racing.
• Circus Flaminius
  • The Circus Flaminius was a large circular area south of the Campus Martius and north of Tiber Island in Rome. It was created in 220 BCE according to Varro.
• Circus of Maxentius
  • The Circus of Maxentius, also known as the Circus of Carracalla, was constructed by Maxentius (306-312 CE) on the Via Appia in Rome. Like the Circus Maximus, the Site of the Monument can still be visited.
• Circus of Nero
  • 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.
• Circus of Agonalis
  • The Circus of Agonalis, also known as the Stadium of Domitian, was where the ‘Agones’ or ‘Games’ were held in Rome. The space has been preserved and it is now the Piazza Navona.

Circus Maximus, Rome