Ancient Roman architecture varying purposes and differed in design and construction. Along with theatres and amphitheatres, Circuses were one of the main entertainment sites of the time. Circuses were venues for chariot races, horse races, and performances that commemorated important events of the empire were performed there. For events that involved re-enactments of naval battles, the circus was flooded with water. The performance space of the Roman circus was normally, despite its name, an oblong rectangle of two linear sections of race track, separated by a median strip running along the length of about two thirds the track, joined at one end with
Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way imperial iconography and is regarded as a symbol of American exceptionalism and the realization of Manifest Destiny, ultimately leading to the evolution of the American Empire. The painting takes its inspiration from the closing lines of George Berkeley's "Verses on the Prospect of Planting Arts and Learning in America: <poem> Westward the course of empire takes its way; The first four Acts already past, A fifth shall close the Drama with the day; Time's noblest offspring is the last. </poem> The imagery of the pilgrim gesturing on a high rock is very similar to the 5 cent postage stamp, "Fremont