Circus Maximus Flashcards
(42 cards)
What did the circus maximus look like?
Roughly oval shape
Covered in sand
What was the spina
A barrier running down the middle
What were metae
3 conical turning posts marking the turning points
What were the carceres
12 automatic starting gates at one end of the track. Horses had to stay in their lines until they reached a white line
How many people could the stadium seat
Up to 250000, a quarter of the population of Rome
What were the chariots made up of and why
Leather and wicker so they were light and could go as fast as possible
What were the colours of the chariot racer’s teams
Red, white, green and blue (and sometimes purple and gold)
Why would people go to chariot races
To support their favourite teams and bet
Who would attend chariot races
Men and women, rich and poor
What were the number of laps run shown by
7 large marble or wooden eggs, called ova, and bronze dolphins, called delphini, positioned on the spina
What was outside the circus maximus
3 levels of arches where there were arcades with shops, food sellers and other tradesmen
What is a pulvinar
Elevated empty seats so the gods could watch the game
What did the races start with
A procession of chariots through the Processional Gate. The charioteers would wear colourful costumes. Statues of the gods would also be paraded (including Neptune, god of horses). People in the crowd wore colours of their favourite teams
What is the circus maximus
A track for chariot racing
What was the signal for the start of the race
The dropping of a large white cloth by the emperor or sponsor of the races
How many laps did the chariots race
7 (2 and a half miles)
How many races were there a day
24, each lasting about 15 mins
What did charioteers wear?
Tunics in the colour of their teams. They tied the reins high around their waists to ensure that they kept their whip hand free and could maintain a good control of the horses. They also wore leather helmets and other protective gear
What happened when a chariot crashed
The charioteer would be dragged behind it. Therefore they also carried a dagger to cut themselves free if this happened
Where was the most exciting part of the race
At the turning posts, as this was where most crashes happened. Charioteers would want to stay as close to the posts as possible to get ahead of other competitors
What are naufragia crashes
Crashes in which the chariot was destroyed and the charioteer and horses incapacitated
What were aurigae
Roman charioteers who started their careers as slaves. They would race chariots to become famous and earn enough money to buy their freedom
What happened to an auriga who won his race
He received a wreath of Lauren leaves and some money
How were cash prizes given
Along with the victory palm
