Circus Maximus

Nowadays, you can hardly see anything of it, but in the past, the largest racetrack in the Roman Empire stood between the Palatine and the Aventine. The Circus Maximus provided entertainment as early as the 4th century BC. Great Ludi Circenses (Circus Games) sometimes lasted up to sixty days, and an average of twelve chariot races were held each day.

Only during the time of Caesar did the Circus Maximus take on the grand form that we imagine today. At that time, it could accommodate over 150,000 spectators. Later emperors further embellished it. Among them, the Circus measured 600 meters long, 200 meters wide, and could hold approximately 300,000 spectators.

The spina, the 'backbone' that separated the two halves of the track, was 214 meters long and 6 meters wide. Many statues stood on the spina, and Emperor Augustus had a 23-meter-high obelisk placed there. However, these decorations were not always safe. Once, a pillar fell on a grandstand, resulting in more than a thousand deaths. Also, a grandstand collapsed once, claiming the lives of 13,000 people. Some emperors even participated in the chariot races. Nero was particularly infamous: he had opponents murdered and had 1,800 victories attributed to him. In reality, he never finished a race because he fell from his chariot.

It was also tumultuous in the stands. There was a lot of wine involved, and rival fan clubs created scenes that would make today's hooligans seem insignificant. Many deaths often occurred in the stands, and there is even a recorded battle in which more than a thousand people lost their lives.

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