Circus Maximus

View 2/2 of the Circus Maximus

Nestled in a long valley between the Aventine and Palatine Hills, the Circus Maximus was the oldest and largest Circus in Rome, reputed to have been founded in the 6th century BCE by order of Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, the fifth king of Rome. However, tradition has it that Romulus introduced the first horse races during which the infamous event, the ‘Rape of the Sabine Women’ took place. The Circus Maximus was a chariot racetrack but could accommodate other spectacles, including gladiatorial combats (ludi gladiatorii), wild animal hunts (venationes), athletic events and public executions. Several festivals were held at the Circus. The oldest was the Roman Games (Ludi Romani), held annually for fifteen days in September in honour of Jupiter, but in the centuries that followed, about twenty more fixed dates for ludi were added to the Roman calendar.



The building underwent various development stages and systematization after several major fires damaged the structure, including the Great Fire of 64 CE under emperor Nero. As a result, subsequent emperors gradually began to rebuild the Circus, and the seats around the track, initially made of wood, were replaced with stone. Trajan gave the Circus Maximus its final appearance by rebuilding it entirely in stone, with an impressive marble façade, elevated stands and an additional 5,000 seat

Carole Raddato

September 24, 2017

Description Provided By Carole Raddato

Photograph

Rome, Italy