Panem et circensem

Ludi Circenses Chariot racing was the most popular sport in Rome, appealing to all social classes from slaves to the Emperor himself..

Dio Chrysostom “They have no interest in anything else. When they enter a stadium they lose all consciousness of their former state and are not ashamed to say or do anything that occurs to them.... constantly leaping and raving and beating one another and using abominable language and often reviling even the gods themselves and flinging their clothing at the charioteers and sometimes even departing naked from the show. " (Orationes, XXXII, LXXVII).

Ludi Circenses A broad stretch of level ground was all that was required. The word circus, which means “ring”, eventually came to mean “race courses.” Although other shows were sometimes presented in a circus, unless otherwise stated, a circus was a place a Roman went to see chariot races.

Ludi Circenses The word circus, which means “ring”, eventually came to mean “race courses.” Although other shows were sometimes presented in a circus, unless otherwise stated, a circus was a place a Roman went to see chariot races.

Ludi Circenses. The Roman year had many days dedicated to the gods as official “ludi” (games). The ludi usually stared with a series of ludi scaenici (theatrical shows) and followed with ludi circenses. (chariot races) At the end of the republic, Ludi were celebrated on over fifty days each year and it increased during the empire period .

Ludi scaenici Ludi scaeni were theatrical shows. Romans had both tragedies and comedies, but by the time of Domitian, the most popular type of theatrical show was was pantomime. In pantomime, a single actor performed a story without speaking, using masks, movement, dance and music.

Ludi Cicenses The Ludi Romani were the oldest chariot races. They were started by the king Tarquinius Priscus. They were originally Sept. 12-14, but eventually lasted over 2 weeks.

Ludi Circenses The seating at Ludi reflected the social classes. Senators and equestrians sat in front. Plebeians, freedmen and slaves sat behind. At the chariot races women sat with men (although they sat in the back at gladiator games).

Circus Maximus The oldest and largest circus in Rome was the Circus Maximus. Its seating capacity was approximately 250,000 spectators. It had the same arrangement as all Roman circuses. A large long piece of ground was surrounded on three sides by rows of seats.

Ludi Circenses Chariot racing teams were called “factiones”. There were 4 main teams known by their colors: Red, white, blue and green.

Curse tablets "I adjure you, demon whoever you are, and I demand of you from this hour, from this day, from this moment, that you torture and kill the horses of the Greens and Whites and that you kill in a crash their drivers...and leave not a breath in their bodies."

Curse tablets Bind every limb, every sinew, the shoulders, the ankles and the elbows of...the charioteers of the Reds. Torment their minds, their intelligence and their senses so that they may not know what they are doing, and knock out their eyes so that they may not see where they are going—neither they nor the horses they are going to drive."

Curse tablets I conjure you up, holy beings and holy names, join in aiding this spell, and bind, enchant, thwart, strike, overturn, conspire against, destroy, kill, break Eucherius, the charioteer, and all his horses tomorrow in the circus at Rome. May he not leave the barriers well; may he not be quick in contest; may he not outstrip anyone; may he not make the turns well; may he not win any prizes..."

Ludi Circenses Biga – two horse chariot Quadriga-four horse chariot. This was the mosr common kind. Auriga-Charioteer

Ludi Circenses It started with a procession in the Circus. Then the presiding magistrate dropped a mappa (napkin) to begin the race). The chariots raced out of their starting places which were called carceres (prisons).

Ludi Circenses. There were usually 24 races in a day’s program. Each race was usually 7 laps. When the lead chariot completed a lap, one egg or dolphin was dropped.

Circus Maximus The eggs or dolphins were part of the center of the course, which was called the spina.

Ludi Circenses The most dangerous part was the meta (metae-pl) , or turning point on each end, marked by cones. Each charioteer carried a knife to cut himself loose if he crashed.

Ben Hur

Munera and Venationes Munera were gladiatorial shows. Venationes were spectacles that involved animal hunts.

Munera & Venationes The first stone theatre in Rome was Pompey’s theatre, dedicated in 55BC. In conjunction with the opening of his theatre, he sponsored animal hunts in the Circus Maximus (the Colosseum hadn’t been built yet). When 18 elephants were brought out to be hunted, the audience pitied them and the elephants nearly stampeded into the seats!

Naumachiae Augustus constructed special areas for Naumachiae (mock naval fights) on the banks of the Tiber.

Flavian Amphitheatre In 72AD, the Emperor Vespasian began building the great Flavian Amphitheatre. Construction was continued by Emperor Titus (his son) and completed by Emperor Domitian (his other son) in 80AD.

Triumph A pompa was a parade or procession. There were many parades in ancient Rome, but the grandest were triumphal procession celebrating a military victory A triumphator was a triumphant general granted the right to march through the city.

Triumph There is a description of the triumph of Vespasian and Titus left by the historian Josephus. It began in the Campus Martius, an area of Rome formerly used for military training. Vespasian and Titus offered prayers to the gods and entered through the Porta Triumphalis.

Triumph The parade included lines of soldiers, conquered people, and even what we would call “floats”, rolling stages depicting the battles. It ended at the Temple of Iuppiter Optimus Maximus on the Capitoline hill.