the roman spectators watched chariot races at the roman forum.
the roman spectators watched chariot races at the roman forum.
where did the roman spectators watch chariot races?
roman forum
when juvenal complained that the roman people had exchanged their political liberty for "bread and circuses", he was referring to the state-provided grain dole and the "circenses", events held in the entertainment venue called a "circus" in latin. the largest such venue in rome was the circus maximus, the setting of horse races, chariot races, the equestrian troy game, staged beast hunts "(venationes)", athletic contests, gladiator combat, and historical re-enactments. from earliest times, several religious festivals had featured games "(ludi)", primarily horse and chariot races "(ludi circenses)". although their entertainment value tended to overshadow ritual significance, the races remained part of archaic religious observances that pertained to agriculture, initiation, and the cycle of birth and death.
roman empire
the romans probably borrowed chariot racing from the etruscans as well as the racing tracks, who themselves borrowed it from the greeks, but the romans were also influenced directly by the greeks. according to roman legend, chariot racing was used by romulus just after he founded rome in 753 bc as a way of distracting the sabine men. romulus sent out invitations to the neighbouring towns to celebrate the festival of the consualia, which included both horse races and chariot races. whilst the sabines were enjoying the spectacle, romulus and his men seized and carried off the sabine women, who became wives of the romans. chariot races were a part of several roman religious festivals, and on these occasions were preceded by a parade "(pompa circensis)" that featured the charioteers, music, costumed dancers, and images of the gods. while the entertainment value of chariot races tended to overshadow any sacred purpose, in late antiquity the church fathers still saw them as a traditional "pagan" practice, and advised christians not to participate.
chariot racing