Circus Maximus Flashcards
(9 cards)
What was the Circus Maximus?
A chariot-racing stadium.
It was the first & largest stadium of Rome and the Roman Empire.
Had a capacity of 250,000 spectators.
Built in the valley between the Aventine & Palatine hills.
What was the structure of the Circus Maximus?
Oval-shaped.
Seating on 3 sides, 1 side for stables and start boxes - most popular seats were at the curved ends of the track (most dangerous part of the track).
A central barrier (spina) ran down the middle of the track.
To indicate the turning point for charioteers, at either end of the spina there were 3 metae (turning posts).
Who were charioteers?
Slaves - freedmen could also race.
They became charioteers to gain wealth (to buy their own freedom = “manumission”) and popularity - those who won consistently would become celebrities (however, they were still looked down upon as charioteering was a profession closely linked to slavery).
What were the teams of Roman charioteering?
The Reds.
The Blues.
The Whites.
The Greens.
Each team had their own stables and trainers.
Fans would wear the colour of their favourite team.
What could spectators do to make profit at the races?
Place bets on the races - some would even curse the opposing teams on curse tablets (found during the excavation of the Circus Maximus).
How often were the races held?
Once a week.
24 races on a typical race day.
What happened at the races?
A typical race would include 3 charioteers from each team, drawn by a quadriga (4-horse cart).
The games were sponsored by the Emperor or a rich politician wanting to gain the public’s favour.
The race started with the Emperor dropping a white cloth - the chariots would then depart from the 12 carceres (starting gates).
Charioteers had to complete 7 laps anticlockwise around the track (1 lap = 568m long) - a total of over 3.5 miles.
The laps were counted by moving dolphin/egg counters on the spina.
Why was charioteering dangerous for the charioteer?
They would wrap the reins around their waist so that they could use their body weight to control the chariot - but this meant that if they crashed, they would often be dragged to their death.
How would a charioteer prevent being dragged to their death?
They carried a knife to cut themselves free from the reins if they crash.
