Circus of Maxence

The Cirque of Maxence ( Circus Maxentius ) was created at the beginning of the IVe century by the emperor Maxence.

This circus was located out of the Ville, to the 3rd thousand of the Voie Appienne, where the emperor made build a great complex in 311 a. J. - C.: the circus, but also a palate and large a Mausoleum for his/her late son Valérius Romulus.

The circus was reserved for the imperial family and to the close friends, and there were places for only 10.000 spectators (against 150.000 places with the Cirque Maxime).

Structure

All in brick, this building 513 meters was long and broad, the Spina , separation in the middle of the Hippodrome, 91 meters 283 meters length were. To furnish the Spina , Maxence placed large a Obélisque coming from the Temple of Isis (Champ de Mars): the Obelisk of the fountain of the Rivers.

Today

It is today in ruins, the stalls starting and the spina is partly preserved. It is the Roman Cirque best preserved Antiquité. The walls outside are still upright, and contours of the Spina are still visible.

Other denominations

The circus of Maxence is also called circus of Romulus , of the name of his/her late son: Valérius Romulus .

During the Moyen-âge, this circus was known under the name of circus of Caracalla because one found traces of this emperor close to the circus, that one allotted to him by error.

Plan of the circus

See too

generic Article on the Roman circuses
List of the Roman circuses

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