Circus Maximus

Question 1

What did the circus maximus look like?

Answer 1

Roughly oval shape

Covered in sand

Question 2

What was the spina

Answer 2

A barrier running down the middle

Question 3

What were metae

Answer 3

3 conical turning posts marking the turning points

Question 4

What were the carceres

Answer 4

12 automatic starting gates at one end of the track. Horses had to stay in their lines until they reached a white line

Question 5

How many people could the stadium seat

Answer 5

Up to 250000, a quarter of the population of Rome

Question 6

What were the chariots made up of and why

Answer 6

Leather and wicker so they were light and could go as fast as possible

Question 7

What were the colours of the chariot racer’s teams

Answer 7

Red, white, green and blue (and sometimes purple and gold)

Question 8

Why would people go to chariot races

Answer 8

To support their favourite teams and bet

Question 9

Who would attend chariot races

Answer 9

Men and women, rich and poor

Question 10

What were the number of laps run shown by

Answer 10

7 large marble or wooden eggs, called ova, and bronze dolphins, called delphini, positioned on the spina

Question 11

What was outside the circus maximus

Answer 11

3 levels of arches where there were arcades with shops, food sellers and other tradesmen

Question 12

What is a pulvinar

Answer 12

Elevated empty seats so the gods could watch the game

Question 13

What did the races start with

Answer 13

A procession of chariots through the Processional Gate. The charioteers would wear colourful costumes. Statues of the gods would also be paraded (including Neptune, god of horses). People in the crowd wore colours of their favourite teams

Question 14

What is the circus maximus

Answer 14

A track for chariot racing

Question 15

What was the signal for the start of the race

Answer 15

The dropping of a large white cloth by the emperor or sponsor of the races

Question 16

How many laps did the chariots race

Answer 16

7 (2 and a half miles)

Question 17

How many races were there a day

Answer 17

24, each lasting about 15 mins

Question 18

What did charioteers wear?

Answer 18

Tunics in the colour of their teams. They tied the reins high around their waists to ensure that they kept their whip hand free and could maintain a good control of the horses. They also wore leather helmets and other protective gear

Question 19

What happened when a chariot crashed

Answer 19

The charioteer would be dragged behind it. Therefore they also carried a dagger to cut themselves free if this happened

Question 20

Where was the most exciting part of the race

Answer 20

At the turning posts, as this was where most crashes happened. Charioteers would want to stay as close to the posts as possible to get ahead of other competitors

Question 21

What are naufragia crashes

Answer 21

Crashes in which the chariot was destroyed and the charioteer and horses incapacitated

Question 22

What were aurigae

Answer 22

Roman charioteers who started their careers as slaves. They would race chariots to become famous and earn enough money to buy their freedom

Question 23

What happened to an auriga who won his race

Answer 23

He received a wreath of Lauren leaves and some money

Question 24

How were cash prizes given

Answer 24

Along with the victory palm

Question 25

What happened to very successful charioteers

Answer 25

They earn lots of money and became as famous as pop stars today

Question 26

How would drivers become celebrities throughout the empire

Answer 26

Simply by surviving, as the life expectancy was not very high

Question 27

Who was Scorpus

Answer 27

A celebrity driver who won over 2000 races before being killed in a collision at the meta at age 27

Question 28

Could horses become celebrities

Answer 28

Yes

Question 29

When did charioteers start training

Answer 29

As boys as the owners preferred light weight racers

Question 30

How did charioteers use tactics to win

Answer 30

They pushed another chariot into the turning post to try and win

Question 31

What were quadrigae

Answer 31

Four horse chariots

Question 32

What were bigae

Answer 32

Two horse chariots

Question 33

Were quadrigae or bigae more important

Answer 33

Quadrigae

Question 34

How would a driver show off his skill

Answer 34

By using up to 10 horses, but this was impractical

Question 35

How much did seats cost

Answer 35

They were free for the poor. The wealthy could pay for shaded seats where they had a better view

Question 36

Where did people sit

Answer 36

Men and women could sit together and with whoever they liked. They might also bring cushions to sit on and scented water to cool themselves down

Question 37

Where would the emperor watch games from

Answer 37

His palace, and it was one of the few opportunities for ordinary people to see their leader

Question 38

Where the chariot races competitive

Answer 38

Very. Crowds of spectators would gather to cheer on their favourite colours, and there was a lot of bettin

Question 39

What did teams represent in the betting world

Answer 39

Different groups of financial backers

Question 40

Columella: extracts from On agriculture

Answer 40

“The lazy and sleepy type of slave is used to idleness, waiting around at the exercise ground, the Circus, the theatre, gambling establishments…”

Question 41

Martial epigrams: Patrons and clients

Answer 41

“Earning 100 lead coins for a whole days work, when Scorpus the charioteer in a single hour walks of as a winner with 15 heavy bags of hot gold?”

Question 42

Martial epigrams: chariot racing

Answer 42

“I am the famous Scorpus, the idol of the cheering Circus; you applauded me, Rome, your darling for too short a time”
“Fate was jealous and carried me off before I was thirty”
“She counted up my palms - and thought I must be old”