Circus MAximus

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The ancient Romans created many architectural and engineering marvels. Marvels such as aqueducts, the Colosseum, the Pantheon, and many more. None affected as many Romans more so than the Circus Maximus. The Circus Maximus, the great Roman chariot racing stadium, attracted visitors from far and wide. The Circus Maximus can only be properly described by its history, construction, use, importance to the Romans, and what it reveals about the Romans.
The Circus Maximus, located between the Aventine and Palatine hills, and near the Colosseum, began as no more than just a flat track for races, but its future could not have been foreseen. The Circus Maximus grew and developed with the Roman civilization. Under Etruscan rule, wooden seating was added for both the patricians and the plebes. During the the Roman Republic, stone seating, starting stalls, and lap counting mechanisms. Julius Caesar added seating to encompass the track as well as a canal between the track and seating. This canal aided in the flood relief of the flood prone area between the Aventine and Palatine hills. After Caesar’s death, a fire destroyed a large portion of the Circus Maximus. It is Augustus, Caesar’s successor, that repaired the Circus Maximus. Augustus repaired the Circus and also added a pulvinar and an obelisk. A pulvinar is essentially a lavish private viewing box and an obelisk is a Egyptian tower used to honor the gods.
The emperors following Augustus continued to improve the Circus. Claudius added more flood relief measures to the flood prone area. The Circus Maximus due to its wooden construction was very prone to fire. Fire broke out during Claudius’ and Nero’s reign destroying portions of the Circus Maximus. Repairs were again made to the Cir...

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...dapted as well.
The Circus Maximus is truly one of the great works of the Roman civilization. The sheer size and scale of the building is impressive even by modern standards. It is even more impressive considering the time period in which it was built. The uses the Romans had for the Circus Maximus is also quite interesting. Ranging from short religious ceremonies to grand celebrations over the course of many days to basic entertainment, the amount of use the Romans had for the Circus Maximus is amazing. What stands out is truly what it reveals about the Romans. Romans are prideful and powerful as evidenced by Augustus’ proudly displaying his obelisk. They are also ingenious as evidenced by the additions to help control flooding. Romans seek grandeur and nothing is more grand than the Circus Maximus. The Circus Maximus is one of ancient Rome’s defining achievements.

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