Page 25 - All About History 48 - 2017 UK

The audience Starting procession
The games were one of the most important Before the race began there was a procession
events in the Roman calendar. Members of every through the circus. Images of the gods were
echelon of society gathered, from peasants to the carried around the track in a grand display –
emperor himself, in the arena, which could seat some were in carriages, in frames, and others
an estimated 150,000. Love poets wrote that race on men’s shoulders. They were followed
days were the ideal place to find a lady, while by attendants on foot and horseback and
Christian preachers warned that the circus was behind them were dancers, musicians and
full of sin, and just as corrupt as a brothel. combatants. This procession was followed by
sacred rites delivered by priests.

Spina
The Spina was a brick wall barrier that ran straight
down the middle of almost the entire length of the
Circus Maximus. This wall was approximately 3.5
metres wide and 1.2 metres high. Emperor Augustus
erected an obelisk in the middle, which reached 40
metres high and had been brought from Egypt. The
chariots would turn around the ends of the Spina,
which were protected by three ornamented cones.

Competitors
The drivers of the carriages were
of low social status, often slaves
or freedmen. Slaves especially had
something to gain from winning
races, as if they won enough, they
couldbuytheirfreedom.Often
thedriverdidnotownthechariot
Eggs and dolphins The track andhorsesheracedwith,instead
There were two columns near The circus itself was a long oblong, using those belonging to wealthier
the end of the Spina with marble which measured 621 metres citizens.Thismeantthat,as
crossbars. Mounted on these by 118 metres wide. The entire womenwereabletoownchariots,
crossbars were large sculpted eggs, circumference of the stadium was a theycouldbethewinnersofarace
one of which was removed every mile (1.6 kilometres) around. A canal, they were prohibited from taking
time the chariots completed a circuit three metres wide by three metres part in through ownership.
to indicate how many laps were deep, was later cut between the track
remaining. Eggs were chosen as they and the seating, which protected the
were believed to be the symbol of spectators and helped drain the track.
the divine patrons of Rome, Castor
and Pollux. In 33 BCE, large bronze
dolphins were also added for greater
visibility of the current race progress.

Outside
The festivities weren’t confined to inside the arena.
Outside the Circus Maximus there were many
shops open to the spectators. Every shop had a
separate entrance and exit to accommodate the
huge number of people visiting them without risk
of overcrowding. Dionysius wrote that this area
© Sol90 Images
of shops was inhabited by cooks, astrologers and
prostitutes, and was the site of the fire of 64 CE.
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