1

The circus maximus was built by Lucius Tarquinius Priscus in the late 7th or early 6th century
BC. This was the 5th Roman king.
2
The circus maximus is located in the valley between the Aventine and Palatine hills.
3
In ancient times the Circus Maximus looked the picture on the left. It has lots of seating and a
large track in the middle. Today the Circus maximus is just a field and has a faint dirt track
where the original building once stood.
4
There were multiple changes throughout the time the Circus Maximus was in use. The starting
gates for the races were built in 329 BC, and starting in 174 BC wooden eggs were used to
count the laps. The entire structure was originally wooden. It was totally destroyed by a large
fire in 31 BC and was rebuilt. A second fire in 64 AD reburnt it down and again it was rebuilt as a
wooden structure. Finally the fire of 103 AD burnt it down for a 3rd time and the Circus Maximus
was rebuilt in marble and stone.
5:
The main purpose of the Circus Maximus was for entertainment. It was mostly used for Chariot
racing, which wa the most popular form of entertainment in ancient rome. It was also used for
Public Executions, Gladiatorial Contests, and Wild Animal Hunts.
6:
Chariot Racing was a very popular sport in ancient rome. All social classes enjoyed it and it
was very dangerous.
7:
The arena could hold 250,00 spectators. The track itself was 540 meters long and 80 meters
wide. It was the oldest and biggest public place in Ancient Rome.
8:
During the middle ages the Circus Maximus was converted in fields. IN the 1930s it was cleared
into a public park with a layout that reminds people of the original Circus Maximus