Circus Maximus is an ancient Roman chariot racing stadium. one of the Roman's most popular forms of entertainment .Circus Maximus was the largest stadium in the entire Roman Empire and was used as a model for the construction of other stadiums across the Roman Empire. It was made out …show more content…
It was built on the land between Palatine and Aventine hills in Rome, Italy.It is believed that Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, the fifth Roman king built Circus Maximus in late 7th or early 6th century BC. Circus is also mentioned by historians as the site of the Consualia festival held by the founding king of Rome, Romulus. He invited his Sabine neighbors to enjoy horse racing and drinking while his men abducted young Sabine women. These women were forced to marry Roman men.The first permanent starting gates were created in 329 BC. In 174 BC the gates were rebuilt and seven wooden eggs were placed on top of the spina, the central wall in the arena. The eggs were used to count the number of laps; after each lap one egg was removed. In 33 BC seven bronze dolphins were added to the spina for the same purpose.The circus arena was divided into two tracks by a long central barrier (spina), marked at the ends with conical turning-posts and decorated with Augusts’ obelisk and other monuments.Circus Maximus is six hundred and twenty one meters long(2,037 ft) and hundred and eighteen meters wide. There are two