Roman Circus

The Romans adapted the idea of the Greek Hippodrome to become the Roman Circus. The term is applied to the events that occurred inside of the enclosure. Combat between gladiators, wild beasts, and gladiators and wild beasts, which were usually held in an amphitheater, were sometimes also held in circuses. Many tiers of seat surrounded the circus, except at one end. At this end the stalls for the horses and chariots were located. In the center of the circus, extending lengthwise almost end to end, was a low wall called the spina. The riders and charioteers rode around this wall.

The Roman populace often demanded "bread and circuses" from their political candidates. They wanted sustenance and entertainment. The Roman general Pompey the Great is said to have (in 55 BC) sponsored 5 days of circus games. In this length of time, 500 lions and 20 elephants were killed.

Later (from the Fall of teh Roman Empire to the end of the Renaissance), the Roman circuses were gradually torn apart for their building stones. Few traces of these circuses remain.