My imagination now reverted to the movie Ben Hur when Charlton Heston and Stephen Boyd vying for the prime spot, hurtling down the main racetrack on its rear axles, drawn by six horses with long reins and a whip that was used on the opponent.
Listening to the guide and using my imagination, the scale and grandeur of this arena were mind-boggling, since the length of the park was 650 metres and the width about 150metres, which would be the envy of modern days stadiums. The twelve tracks were equipped with a mechanism that allowed them to be opened simultaneously. Although causing opponents to crash was strictly illegal, collisions were still prevalent, and injury, blood and death was the big attraction at these events. The sharp turns were the most dangerous part of the heated race, where chariots could be knocked, overturned, and crushed. Most of the chariots that were used were akin to war chariots, and the riders were held in place at their feet. In the centre of the arena stood a barrier decorated with statues, small temples, a large Obelisk, seven eggs and seven dolphins that gushed out of the water to keep track of the laps. Holding events such as the gladiator battles, executions of captured prisoners and slaves, mock ship battles, chariots races and magnificent processions was a way of boosting the Emperor's popularity. If there was a phenomenon that the locals loved was a spectacle and the opportunity of escapism offered by weird incredible public shows, which assaulted the senses and heightened the emotions. They would surge to witness the spectacle in the vast arena. In ancient times the Emperor would state that chariot races and entertainment would be presented to the 250,000 bloodthirsty citizens. Ronaldo remarked that I should shut my eyes and use my imagination as he commenced the commentary. To the naked eye, it would also appear to be a park or an empty field for walking dogs or an area for picnics.
On arrival at the Circus Maximus, the ground was barren with sloping grass ground on either side plus a few trees in the distance. It was an impressive ride viewing critical ancient sites, plus in the valley between the Palatine and the Aventine hills is the Circus Maximus. We boarded the metro at Termini station to Archo di Travertino in the direction of Anagnina, and then transferred onto a bus to Agricultura and exited at Tor di Corbone. The Circus Maximus (Circo Massimo) had always been of great interest to me, and the release of the movie Ben Hur was a bonus. At the pinnacle of Rome's power, the Circus Maximus could accommodate 250,000 spectators who came in search of blood, gory and death and would certainly match the Colosseum for excitement and grandeur. I read the rise and fall of the Roman empire and a few books relating to this vast land and the enormous empire it controlled, and this gave me some insight as a prelude of this site. Once again, I decided to engage Ronaldo as my guide from CIT Explorer. I missed visiting the Circus Maximus on my first visit to Rome but was fortunate to visit this famous site during the latter part of 1985.
Lately they are trying to turn this huge rectangular fenced space, which allows social distancing for the coronavirus ptoblems, in a space for operatic spectacles. Occasionally there are rallies for political reasons, since the space is huge and allows big meetings and gatherings of people. Unfortunately today there are very few traces of what it once was. Various competitions were held in the Circus Maximus, such as chariot races, where participants had to do seven laps around the Circus Maximus.įor the competitors, who competed on small horse-drawn carriages, what was at stake was much more than their prestige or a prize: they were slaves who fought for their freedom!ĭuring the games there were also equestrian parades, known as "Ludus Troianus", the representations of battles, made by young Roman aristocrats, or foot races, which lasted several hours. Its sandy track, 600 meters long and 225 meters wide, made the Circus Maximus the largest stadium in Rome, more capacious than the Circus Flaminius and the Circus of Maxentius. Located between the Aventine and the Palatine Hills, the Circus Maximus of Rome was a stadium with a capacity for 300,000 spectators. They were enlarged enclosures where recreational activities took place, such as chariot races. Roman circuses, with theaters and amphitheatres, were the most important places of entertainment in Ancient Rome. We were there the other day and we loved to see what they are doing now : Italian Opera shows!