Circus Maximus

At the height of its popularity the Circus Maximus seated over 150,000 spectators but even this wasn't enough for every Roman to attend. Entertainment here was on a massive scale. Situated in a natural valley, the Circus has became synonymous with chariot racing but was used for all kinds of elaborate 'ludi', or games, often to celebrate religious festivals. Rather like the modern Olympics, the games were paid for by rich sponsors and tried to outdo previous events in terms of grandeur and pageantry. As well as chariot races, boxing, wrestling, gladiator contests, athletics, plays, recitals and even elephant fighting featured as events. The Circus Maximus itself was rebuilt several times, to make it grander and safer for spectators, and then more dangerous and exciting again: Julius Caesar ordered a moat to protect the crowd, but Nero then had it filled in so that everyone could be closer to the action!