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times. A broad stretch of level ground was all that was required.
The word circus, which means ring, eventually came to mean
race courses. Although other shows were sometimes presented
in a circus, unless otherwise stated, a circus was a place a
Roman went to see chariot races.
Possibly the oldest spectacular
sport in Rome, chariot racing dates
back at least to the sixth century
BCE. Originally chariot races
(ludi circenses) were
held only on
religious
festivals like the Consualia,
but later they would also be held
on non-feast days when sponsored
by magistrates and other Roman
dignitaries.
Rows of stone benches three and four tiers high extend around
the track; the corridors beneath the stands, punctuated with
staircases leading to various blocks of seats, are crowded with
shops and filled with milling people--restless spectators, vendors
hawking food or cushions for the hard benches, gamblers taking
bets, prostitutes looking for customers. The stands are divided
according to social class.
OTHER USES
Gladiator fights
Wild animal fights unsafe with more seats
Athletics
Processions
THE RACETRACK
Circus oval track
Starting gates
Spina spine
Pulvinar - shrine