Circus Maximus, Rome

The Circus Maximus (Circo Massimo) lies between the Palatine and Aventine Hills in a valley once known as the Vallis Murcia.

Only a few ruins remain of what once was a chariot racetrack (I certainly didnt see Charlton Heston racing his chariot around - lol) which stood about 600m long and 90m wide. It was decorated with statues and columns, had wooden stands and could accommodate 200,000 spectators.

The great excitement for the crowds was when the chariots had to negotiate the sharp turns at each end.

In 46 BC Julius Caesar had battles recreated here using prisoners.

Augustus erected an obelisk of Tamses ll in 10 BC, which now stands in the Piazza del Popolo.

A fire in 64 AD that destroyed much of the city of Rome is thought to have started in the circus's wooden stands.

The circus was rebuilt by Trajan in 100 AD and could hold 250,000 spectators.

Another obelisk was erected by Constantine, that now standards in Piazza San Giovanni in Laterno.

The circus remained in use until 549 AD.

Excavations are currently being carried out at the eastern end.

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The Circus Maximus (greatest circus in Latin - Circo Massimo in Italian) was the primary entertainment site in ancient Rome. Located in the valley between the Aventine and Palatine hills, the area was first used by the Etruscan kings for public games and entertainment.

The most notable event at the Circus was chariot racing. The track typically featured twelve chariots and the stadium could accommodate an estimated 250,000 spectators (more perhaps as an equal number could view the games by standing amidst the adjoining hills).

There is very little evidence of ancient times here, but the grass-covered racing track, the spina (a raised median that was set slightly diagonally), and a few of the starting gates remain to fuel our imagination.

At either end of the spina was a turning post, the meta, around which chariots made dangerous turns at speed. On top of the spina, there were rotatable metal dolphins that were turned down to mark laps around the course. The winner was typically the only one out of 12 chariots that completed the 6.5 km (4 mile) race - the other chariots broke, ran into walls, or crashed one way or another. There was a special crew whose only job was to remove broken chariots, detached horses, and injured or dead charioteers. One end of the track extended further back than the other, to allow the chariots to line up to begin the race. Here there were starting gates, or carceres, which staggered the chariots so that each travelled the same distance to the first turn. During these chariot races, bribery of the judge in order to fix the start of the race was very common.

The Circus still entertains the Romans and it is used for concerts, meetings and celebrations. The Rome concert of Live 8 (July 2 2005) was celebrated here, as was the Italian World Cup 2006 victory, 700,000 to 1,000,000 people packed in to celebrate (depending on which figures from various news accounts you care to quote).

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The site for the famed chariot races like in 'Ben hur' and a whole lot more besides from the first century BC to around the sixth century AD. The track is 600 Metres long . Caesar Augustus erected Ramses II's obelisk here in 10 BC but today it stands in Piazza del Popolo, leaving the Circo Massimo a curiously understated and overlooked piece of Roman history.

In its heyday the 250,000 spectators it could hold made it Rome's biggest stadium - this was dwarfed by the supposed 1,000,000 audience in 2006 to welcome the triumphant Azzuri, Italy's World Cup winning football team

Circus Maximus is just past Palatine Hill and was the site of the chariot races. It was once ringed with wooden benches that could seat over 200,000 spectators. It was also elaborately decorated with sculptures. It most recently was the center point for the Italian celebrations of their World Cup victory.

This was the first circus used for chariot races. Lying in the valley between the Aventine and Palatine hills it is said to have been built by king Tarquinius Priscus.

The track was originally bordered by banks of wooden seats. According to what I have read about the Circus, in 10 B.C. Augustus brought from Heliopolis the obelisk of Rameses II (which today is found in the Piazza del Popolo) to occupy the centre of the circus. Later the obelisk of Thutmosis III was added (by wish of Pope Sixtus V, and it stands today in the Piazza S. Giovanni in Laterano).

The circus was enlarged by Ceasar and Augustus added to it the pulvinar (royal enclosure or sacred area). Today there is very little preserved.

This oval basin, nearly 600 metres long, is almost entirely filled in with dirt. It was once a race track and primarily used for horse-racing although it was used on occasion for hunts or mock battles. Made in the time of the Etruscan kings, it was twice destroyed by fire and on at least two occasions the stands collapsed, killing many people.

During the reign of Constantine, the Circus could hold more than 200,000 spectators and the last race held at the was in 549 A.D., nearly a full millenium after the track's construction. Today only the outline remains (the area it occupied is now a public garden).

located between the aventine and palatine hills is the ruins of the circus maximus. construction of the circus began in 4th century BC and was continually expanded until 549AD. the circus maximus was the site of rome's famous chariot races. the grandstands of the circus held over 300,000 spectators. in the backgound of the picture is the ruins of the emperor's viewing stands.

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Once the venue for chariot racing, now a green area with just a little reminder of the past at one end. For us this was a good place to eat our picnic lunch and enjoy the sun for half an hour.
Easy to imagine what may of happened here, it must have been a huge arena.