The Circus Maximus was the largest and most important chariot racing arena in ancient Rome. Built in the 6th century BC, it could hold over 270,000 spectators and featured starting gates, tiered seating, and an central dividing barrier decorated with monuments. Chariot races with teams of different colored factions competing were hugely popular spectator events, though dangerous for participants. The arena fell out of use in the 6th century AD.

1. Circus Maximus

2. Circus: an open-air Roman arena for public events; most notably, chariot-racingOf all the circi, The Circus Maximus was the most important at Rome

3. Circus Maximus sat in the valley between the Palatine and Aventine Hills

5. It was built during the monarchy by the fifth king, LuciusTarquiniusPiscus (616 BC to 579 BC)During the Republic and Empire, it became increasingly adorned and its size increased. At its greatest size, it could hold more than 270,000 spectators

6. Julius Caesar gave it tiered seating and twelve starting gates

7. The emperor Trajan later added another 5000 seats, and expanded the emperor's seating to increase his public visibility during the games.

8. 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

9. Emperor Augustus placed the obelisk in the center of the Circus MaximusObelisk

10. The obelisk was originally from Heliopolis, Egypt and brought to Rome by Augustus around 10 BC and erected on the spina of the Circus Maximus. It was found in 1587 in two pieces and re-erected by Pope Sixtus V in the Piazza del Popolo in 1589 as part of his urban plan.

11. At each end of the spina there would be a set of seven metal dolphins (in honor of Neptune) and a set of seven eggs. These would be taken down one at a time as the chariots lapped round the track.

12. During the chariot races, four, six, eight, or twelve teams of horses competed, beginning at the wider end of the circus at the starting gateStarting Gates

13. Image #3 - The Circus Maximus and Emporer's Palace - reconstructed on Google Earth

14. Chariot racing was often dangerous to both driver and horse as they frequently suffered serious injury and even death, but generated strong spectator enthusiasm.

15. The chariot driver's clothing was color-coded according to his “faction”, which would help distant spectators to keep track of the race's progress.

16. There were originally just two factions, White and Red, sacred to winter and summer respectively. Later, there were four factions, the Red, White, Green, and Blue. Each team could have up to three chariots each in a race.

17. Members of the same team often collaborated with each other against the other teams, for example to force them to crash into the spina (a legal and encouraged tactic). Drivers could switch teams, much like athletes can be traded to different teams today.

18. Winner of a chariot race from the Red Team

20. The Circus Maximus fell into disuse around the 6th century, and the area has since been turned into a park

21. Circus Maximus, viewed from the Palatine Hill