Roman circus
The performance space of the Roman circus was normally an oblong rectangle. Two linear sections of race track ran parallel to each other. A median strip called the spina divided the course down its center. This strip extended about two thirds the length of the entire track. One end of the circuit closed with a semicircular section. The opposite end featured an undivided straight track. This straight end held a distinctive starting gate known as the carceres. These gates had a slanted, slightly curved plan form. Architects designed this shape to compensate for distance differences from individual gates to the start of the first straight track. Races ran in an anticlockwise direction around the spina.
Circuses frequently evolved over long periods of time before becoming permanent stone structures. They began as simple tracks laid out in open fields. Generations of wooden seating structures followed these initial earthworks. Fire and rot often destroyed these early wooden frameworks. Construction shifted toward stone only after centuries of development. Most circuses were built during the 400 years between 200 BC and 200 AD. The Circus Maximus in Italy may have existed in some form from as early as 500 BC. It took many generations to transform that field into the massive stone complex seen later.
The simplest comparative measurement of a circus is its track length. Track lengths varied significantly across the empire. The circus at Gerasa in Jordan measured about 245 meters. The Circus Maximus in Italy stretched approximately 621 meters. Seating capacity presented a much more complex challenge to measure. Full vertical and horizontal extents of inclined seating are often destroyed beyond recovery. Estimates for the Circus Maximus place capacity around 150,000 people. Some estimates push this figure up to 250,000 spectators. In contrast, the small circus at Gerasa held around 15,000 people. These numbers reflect the vast scale differences between major imperial venues and smaller provincial towns.
Circuses do not appear to have been constructed with any special compass orientation. Well-identified examples show their round ends facing various directions. The circus at Gerasa in Jordan faced north. Antinoöpolis in Egypt oriented northeast. The Circus of Maxentius in Rome pointed east. Colchester in Britain also faced east. The Circus Maximus in Rome aligned southeast. Tyrus in Lebanon looked south. Gortyn in Greece faced southwest. The Circus of Nero in Rome pointed west. Locations relative to city walls also varied widely. Some circuses sat outside town walls up to 1.5 kilometers away. Others stood simply within the town walls. A few existed inside the walls in the heart of the town as an integral part of the architectural power structure.
The best preserved circuses include sites across Spain, Italy, and Turkey. Emerita Augusta in Mérida, Spain features a visible track length of about 400 meters. Its form is clearly visible though it lacks the distinctive slanted carceres end seen elsewhere. The flat end there is slightly rounded instead. Caesarea Maritima on the coast of Israel stands substantially complete. Few modern structures occupy its space today. The Circus of Maxentius in Rome displays a visible track length of roughly 490 meters. Many parts of this U-shaped structure remain visible. Gerasa in Jordan retains a great deal of its original structure. Tyre in Lebanon shows a visible track width of 80 meters with much still standing. Leptis Magna in Libya lies parallel to the sea shore with clear visibility of its U-shaped form. The Hippodrome of Constantinople in Istanbul was built under Septimius Severus. It measured approximately 450 meters in length but virtually none of the structure remains visible today.
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Common questions
What is the shape of a Roman circus track?
The performance space of the Roman circus was normally an oblong rectangle. Two linear sections of race track ran parallel to each other with a median strip called the spina dividing the course down its center.
When did most Roman circuses get built as stone structures?
Most circuses were built during the 400 years between 200 BC and 200 AD. The Circus Maximus in Italy may have existed in some form from as early as 500 BC before transforming into a massive stone complex over many generations.
How large was the seating capacity of the Circus Maximus in Rome?
Estimates for the Circus Maximus place capacity around 150,000 people. Some estimates push this figure up to 250,000 spectators compared to smaller venues like the Gerasa circus which held around 15,000 people.
Did Roman circuses follow a specific compass orientation?
Circuses do not appear to have been constructed with any special compass orientation. Well-identified examples show their round ends facing various directions such as north at Gerasa or southeast at the Circus Maximus.
Which Roman circus sites remain best preserved today?
The best preserved circuses include sites across Spain, Italy, and Turkey including Emerita Augusta in Mérida and Caesarea Maritima on the coast of Israel. The Hippodrome of Constantinople in Istanbul measured approximately 450 meters in length but virtually none of the structure remains visible today.