Circus Maximus Robert Gottlieb

Origins Founded by Tarquinius Priscus, 5 th king of Rome, 6 th century BCE Just a sandy track 329 BCE – permanent starting gates Reconstructions under Caesar and Augustus

The Racetrack Circus – oval track Starting gates Mappa – white flag Spina – spine Metae – turning points Pulvinar - shrine Linea alba –finish line

Track Adornments Eggs and dolphins mark the laps 12 starting gates Seats 150,000 Spring loaded wooden door 10 BCE – obelisk AD 103 – Trajan restores after fire

The Race Pompa – ceremony before races Priests, musicians, and dancers lead racers and statues of gods and goddesses 7 laps, 4 miles 24 races per day

The Teams

Naufragia - Shipwreck

“Gaius Appuleius Diocles, charioteer of the Red Stable, a Spaniard by birth, aged 42 years 7 months 23 days. He drove chariots for 24 years, ran 4257 starts and won 1462 victories. He made 9 horses 100-time winners, and one a 200-time winner. The champion of all charioteers. He excelled the charioteers of all the stables who ever participated in the races of the circus games.”

Other Uses Gladiator fights Wild animal fights – unsafe with more seats Athletics Processions

A Dangerous Sport Racers wrap reins tightly If a racer crashes…

Rivalries Factions hated each other Curse tablets Attempts to poison, dope, or perform magic on hosrses. "I adjure you, demon whoever you are, and I demand of you from this hour, from this day, from this moment, that you torture and kill the horses of the Greens and Whites and that you kill in a crash their drivers..."

Corruption Civilians would petition emperor during races Caligula became unruly, threw people out of arena

Last Race: AD 549