The Circus Maximus - 1098 Words

The Circus Maximus The Circus Maximus, located in the Vallis Murcia (valley between the Aventine and Palatine hills) in Rome, was an ancient hippodrome and mass entertainment venue for the citizens of Rome. The Circus Maximus was first utilised for public games and entertainment by the Etruscan kings of Rome. The first games of the Ludi Romani (Roman Games) were staged there under the rule of Tarquinius Priscus, the fifth Etruscan ruler of Rome. They were in held in early September at the end of the military year. The games began with a religious ceremony that opened with what Ovid describes as â€Å"a golden procession of all the most important religious and civil authorites†. Statues of the Gods were paraded and sacrifices made before the†¦show more content†¦Contraptions invented to indicate the number of laps that had been run were positioned at each end of the stadium. At one end seven wooden eggs, representing Leda’s eggs from which Zeus’ twin sons, Castor and Pollux were said to have been born. These were erected by the censors Fulvius Flaccus and Postumius Albinus in 174 BC to indicate the laps completed. At the opposite end, seven dolphins, made of bronze, honouring Neptune, the patron of the equites (horses and riders), were added by Agrippa in 33 BC. (Evidence provided in Source 2.) This shows that the Circus Maximus was not only used for entertainment purposes but also as a form of propaganda, and allow powerful men to make their mark on Roman society and ensure they were not forgotten. Most of the charioteers, known as auriga were slaves or freedmen, but if they survived they could become very wealthy. The horses were from stud farms in the provinces and brought from Africa and Spain. The Roman officials demanded that only the best horses should compete in their races at the Circus Maximus. Halfway down the right-hand side of the barrier, a white line extends across the track, this was known as the linea alba (finishing line). To win a race, a team must be the first to cross this line at the end of the seventh lap. In front of the finishing line a temple is built into the stands on the Aventine hill, presided over byShow MoreRelatedCircus Maximus1976 Words   |  8 PagesCircus Maximus It is nearly impossible to look at the field that holds the remains of the Circus Maximus and understand what it once held without the aid of a vivid reconstruction. The remains of Circus Maximus lie in the Valley between the Aventine and Palentine hill. Traditionally, the history of the Circus Maximus began with chariot races held in honor of the God Consus in a less permanent structure in the area near Consus’s altar. In later years, this lead to the construction of a circus underRead MoreThe Life Of The Circus Maximus1823 Words   |  8 Pages the Circus Maximus do not launder just money which they skim from casinos or wherever to build up their coffers as part of a slush fund. No, they also launder other things,† mentioned Walther. â€Å"I am talking about something else besides millions of dollars in hard and liquid assets such as gold and silver bullion, gems, bank notes and securities.† â€Å"Like what?† the Wise Man asked, demanding answers. Brà ¼nnhilde began to describe to the Wise Man about the other things that the Circus Maximus considersRead MoreRome And Rome : Colosseum, Circus Maximus, And Hippodromes1610 Words   |  7 Pagesfacilities and how they were structured it can be breath taking and offer a wealth of knowledge. Some of the greatest facilities still stand today and others are being built. Some of the most famous facilities being in Greece and Rome: Colosseum, Circus Maximus, and Hippodromes. The Colosseum is one of the greatest buildings ever built. It was built around A.D. 70-72 by Emperor Vespasian (Colosseum). In A.D. 80 the Colosseum was opened up for games (Colosseum). Some of the games being played were gladiatorialRead MoreThe Roman Spectacle Of Ancient Society891 Words   |  4 Pagesfifth king of Rome in the sixth century BC commission a place for such events to take place the Circus Maximus would be constructed using the natural geography found in Rome. In between the hills Aventine and Palatine a small stream had carved out a depression. This site would become the largest sports arena the world has ever known. The Circus Maximus would seat around 100,000 spectators. The Circus was designed for chariot racing, but other events were held there, including gladiatorial combatsRead MoreRoman Entertainment1201 Words   |  5 Pageswere held for the Romans to watch. Watching was free so that everyone could come. The events held almost always involved death and destruction. There were the gladiators, the feeding of people to lions, animals fighting animals, animal hunts, animal circus acts, and mock sea battles, where the Colosseum was flooded with water. The animals used in these events were kept below the Colosseum and an estimated 5,000 animals were killed the day the Colosseum opened. The animals were kept under the ColosseumRead MoreThe Mistreatment of Circus Animals1561 Words   |  6 Pages Imagine being in a circus ring watching tigers and lions leaping through blazing rings of fire, elephants standing on their heads, and monkeys riding red bicycles for a colossal crowd of screaming, ch eering fans. The elephant’s exhausted, worn body is swamped with intricately designed drapes. The sweet, endearing smell of fresh cotton candy and popcorn fills the air with excitement. When the show has reached the grand finale and has come to an end, a trainer arrives with a bull hook and thrustsRead MoreAncient Roman Art Of Entertainment1561 Words   |  7 Pageshow they were formed or who cultivated them. Displays of mass public entertainment took on a number of different forms, from festivals such as ludi Megalenses, ludi Ceriales, to â€Å"ludi Circenses, (chariot racing in the circus) Venationes (games with animals, also in the circus, but later they took place in the amphitheater as well) and theatrical performances, ludi Scaenici† (Potter and Mattingly, 206). Although the games were religious in origin, they gradually acquired secular and political importanceRead MoreThe Rise and Fall of Ancient Rome656 Words   |  3 Pagesimportant useful invention was the aqueducts. They carried in water to drink. The water was also used for water plant that provided food. They even used water to wash away dirt to get minerals from mining. One big public entertaining place was the Circus Maximus. It could hold 150,000 people and the arena was 2,037ft in length and 387ft in width. Gladiator, chariot racing, athletics, plays, and ceremonies were held there. The Coliseum could hold 50,000 people and was 615ft long and 510ft wide. DeadlyRead MoreThe Legacy of the Ancient Roman Civilization Essay1665 Words   |  7 Pageswas originally dedicated to the Gods, and it was coined the â€Å"temple to all Gods.#† Roman entertainment was filled with drama, glory, defeat, and blood shed. The main aspects of entertainment lied on the grounds of the Circus Maximus and the Coliseum. The Circus Maximus was the most famous of all of the hippodrome structures. #It stood 600 meters long and 200 meters wide. It was so large that it could hold nearly one quarter of the entire Roman citizenship. Seats ran in rows around the oval-shapedRead MoreExotic Animals in Entertainment: the Pros and Cons3621 Words   |  15 Pageslegal aspects, organizations involved, public image, and the controversy of the industry will be covered as the primary goal of the research. The truth behind the entertainment industry will be revealed by examining historical archives such as the Circus Maximus in Rome, studying mass media records, and laws. The research highlights the controversy pertaining to the use of exotic animals in the entertainment industry by discussing the solutions available and also the negative and po sitive aspects of both