The
Circus Maximus
Circus Maximus
Photo
courtesy and ©1997 Leo Curran, Maecenas: Images of
Ancient Greece and Rome |
In Rome an enormous stadium called the
Circus Maximus was built to hold the chariot races. It could hold over 250,000 people. |
The chariot races were a
popular form of entertainment. The races were run by groups called factions. The factions
owned horse ranches and organized bets. The people attending the races bet on the factions
not on the horses.
Professional charioteers were hired by
the factions. Each faction was identified by the color tunic the charioteer wore: Greens,
Blues, Reds, and Whites. One to three chariots ran for each faction. Each chariot was
pulled by two to four horses.
At the Circus Maximus twelve
starting boxes were available. The gates were opened simultaneously after the magistrate
gave the signal. The drivers wrapped their reins around their bodies and took off. The
reins were wrapped around the driver's waist so that he could lean back and whip the
horses without falling. If the chariot crashed the driver had to use a hooked knife to cut
the reins. During the race many wrecks occurred. Many were caused by tricks from
opponents.
The chariots ran counter-clockwise
around the track for seven laps. Each lap was marked with dolphins that were lowered as
the laps were finished. The winner received palms and crowns as a prize. They usually
received a good amount of money from the betting as well.
For entertainment dogs, ostriches, or
camels might be used in Rome to pull the chariots around the Circus Maximus.
Original Artwork by our ThinkQuest Team
|
The chariots were open vehicles with two
or four wheels. They were pulled by two, three, or four horses. Chariots were used for
hunting, battles, racing, and processions. |
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