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Circus Maximus. ORIGIN. The Circus Maximus was first built in THE 6th century B.C.e. Built between the Palatine and Aventine hills 31 B.C.e. First fire burned down the circus. Second fire burns down circus by AD 103 2,000 ft. long ABOUT 4OO FT. WIDE and could hold 250,000 people
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ORIGIN • The Circus Maximus was first built in THE 6th century B.C.e. • Built between the Palatine and Aventine hills • 31 B.C.e. First fire burned down the circus. Second fire burns down circus by AD 103 • 2,000 ft. long ABOUT 4OO FT. WIDE and could hold 250,000 people • Both Men and women sat together
Chariot Racing • Gladiator combats, athletic events and animal hunting held • Great procession started off the races • Four teams: blue, red, white, green • Race Begun by an official • Chariots light and dangerous • Competitors had big crashes • Slaves and freedmen competed • Winners earned fame and fortune
Circus maximus layout • Seats were once wooden but were made of stone after burned down • 12 gates at the end of the circus let in all the horses at once • central portion called the spina • Three pillars on each end of spina • Egyptian monument called an obelisk was on the spina • Seven dolphins and seven eggs were used as markers
Romans spent most of their time at events Satirist Juvenal’s famous saying “panem et circenses” (“bread and circuses”) Citizens were diverted from revolting to achieve more rights Popularity and importance of the circus