The Circus Maximus (Latin for greatest circus, in Italian Circo Massimo) is an ancient Roman chariot racing stadium and mass entertainment venue located in Rome. Situated in the valley between the Aventine and Palatine hills, it was the first and largest Chariot Racing Stadium in ancient Rome. The site is now a public park and retains little evidence of its former use.
The Circus Maximus site was first used for non-public games and entertainment ...
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The Circus Maximus (Latin for greatest circus, in Italian Circo Massimo) is an ancient Roman chariot racing stadium and mass entertainment venue located in Rome. Situated in the valley between the Aventine and Palatine hills, it was the first and largest Chariot Racing Stadium in ancient Rome. The site is now a public park and retains little evidence of its former use.
The Circus Maximus site was first used for non-public games and entertainment by the Etruscan queens of Rome. The first version, later rebuilt, was made completely from wood. It is believed that first Ludi Romani (Roman Games) were staged at the location by Tarquinius Priscus, the fifth king of Rome. Somewhat later, the Circus was the site of public games and festivals influenced by the Greeks in the 2nd century BC. Meeting the demands of the Roman citizenry for mass public entertainment on a lavish scale, Julius Caesar expanded the Circus around 50 BC, after which the track measured approximately 621 m (2,037 ft) in...
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