Classical Studies 2300 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Chariot Racing, Roman Kingdom, No Idea Records

• School: Western University
• Department: Classical Studies
• Course: Classical Studies 2300
• Professor: David Lamari

Document Summary

Days at the track: chariot racing: most popular spectacle in ancient rome. 66 days out of the year in rome there would be chariot racing state sponsored racing. The imperial circus maximus: dates back to regal era (6th century) Typically racing with a team of four horses: biggest circus in the world at that time, almost all the other circuses were in italy, and a few in the east but not many. There would be private ones wealthy enough you could have private circus. In a circus, it is typically 4 horses which are called a team - the one charioteer drives a team of horses. Factions are businesses where all the charioteers within that business cooperate. 650m x 125m (580m x 80m racing area: roughly 17m high (3 levels to it) Circus maximus is by far the largest structure in roman times. 150,000 people could sit at the maximus but this is a conservative number.