Dates Differently from other major Roman structures circuses frequently evolved over long periods of time from a simple track in a field, through generations of wooden seating structures (frequently destroyed by fire or rot), before they finally began to be converted to stone. Although circuses such as the
Circus Maximus (Italy) may have existed in some form from as early as around 500 BC, circuses were mainly constructed during the 400 years between 200 BC and 200 AD.
Dimensions on her lion, placed on the
spina, being the tutelary goddess of Carthage, may indicate that this is the Circus of Carthage. After
engraving in
sard, much enlarged in the drawing; found at Binchester (
Binovium). The comparative dimensions of a circus may be measured in two basic ways: by the length of the track, and by the
seating capacity. Other dimensions, such as the external dimensions of the structure may vary considerably depending on the location, the site, and on specific architectural characteristics. The simplest comparative measurement of a circus is its track length. This is the most easily measured dimension, as it only requires small excavations at either end of the centreline. It is very probable that this can be done even when the circus is buried under subsequent constructions. Track lengths may vary from the 245 m of the circus at
Gerasa (Jordan), to the 621 m of the
Circus Maximus (Italy). The alternative comparative dimension is that of seating capacity. This is much more complex to measure as it requires that the dimensions of the original vertical and horizontal extent of the inclined seating be re-established. In many cases the full structure of the inclined seating has been destroyed beyond the point where this can be measured, or at the least would require a great deal more excavation than that required for the measurement of the track length. Seating capacity may vary from around 15,000 people at Gerasa (Jordan), to 150,000 (some estimates put it up to 250,000) at the Circus Maximus (Italy).
Orientation Circuses do not appear to have been constructed with any special compass orientation. Those that are well identified can be found with their round ends oriented around the compass. Examples include: N.
Gerasa (Jordan); NE.
Antinoöpolis (Egypt); E.
Circus of Maxentius (Italy); E.
Colchester (Britain); SE.
Circus Maximus (Italy); S.
Tyrus (Lebanon); SW.
Gortyn (Greece); W.
Circus of Nero (Italy).
Relative location Circuses can be found at three distinct locations relative to the towns to which they belong: • outside the city walls at anything up to 1.5 km distant, as at:
Gerasa (Jordan) (c300m), and
Leptis Magna (Libya) (1.5 km). • simply within the town walls, as at:
Thessalonica (Greece). • inside the walls, in the heart of the town, and an integral part of the architectural power structure of the town, as at: Rome,
Sirmium (Serbia) and
Tarraco (Spain).
Carceres The
carceres, or starting gates, had a distinctive, slanted, slightly curved, plan form, designed to compensate for what would otherwise be significant differences in the distances from the individual starting gates to the start of the first section of straight track on the right hand side of the
spina (as seen from the
carceres). The
carceres were designed for the races to be run round the
spina in an anticlockwise direction. The form of the
carceres appears to have been standardised throughout the Roman world. The similarity in form among the
carceres of circuses of many different sizes suggests that
carceres were constructed according to a series of proportional mathematical relationships or formulas. It is not clear when the earliest
carceres of the standardised form was constructed, nor whether there exists documentary evidence for the existence of such formulas. Some of the best examples of
carceres can be found at:
Gerasa (Jordan) and the
Circus of Maxentius (Italy). ==Best preserved==