Circus Flaminius (Rome)

 monument, Roman Empire, invisible, historical layer / disappeared object

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The Circus Flaminius was a large, circular area of land in Rome that contained a small race-track reserved for mysterious games, and various other buildings and monuments. It was located in the southern end of the Campus Martius, near the Tiber River. It was ‘built,’ or sectioned off by Flaminius Nepos in 221 BC. In its early existence, the Circus was a loop, approximately 500 m in length stretching across the Flaminian Fields. During the 2nd century B.C., this broad space was encroached upon by buildings and monuments. By the early 3rd century A.D., the only open space that remained was a small piazza in the center, no more than 300m long, where the Ludi (public games) were held. The Circus was abandoned toward the end of first century AD.

The Circus Flaminius was never meant to rival the much larger Circus Maximus, and unlike the Maximus, it was not just an entertainment venue. Assemblies, for instance, were often held inside. It was also used as a market. In 2 B.C., the circus was flooded for the slaughter of 36 crocodiles to commemorate the building of the Forum of Augustus. In AD 9 Augustus delivered the Laudatio of Drusus here. The circus lacked permanent seating, nor were there any permanent structures around the perimeter of the race track.

There is debate as to whether or not the Circus Flaminius was used for chariot racing. Strabo makes no mention of equestrian activities taking place. Valerius Maximus claims that the Ludi Plebeii (Plebeian Games) were held inside, but other sources deny this. Livy, Varro and Antoninus Pius, however, have records of some form of Ludi being held within the circus, most likely the Ludi Taurii, games held in honor of the Gods of the Underworld. These mysterious games were only held in the Circus Flaminius, suggesting they were symbolically tied to the building itself, and thus could not be moved to a different circus. These were horse, not chariot, races with one rider and his horse going around the turning posts.

In the vicinity of the circus (“in circo Flaminio”) were many structures. The Temple of Pietas lay on the edge of the Forum Holitorium to the southeast. The Temple of Mars was situated in the northwest. By 220 B.C., there were possibly six temples, including one to Apollo, standing in Flaminian Fields. In AD 15, statues to the deified Augustus were erected, dedicated by C. Norbanus Flaccus. Also inside was the Porticus Octaviae. The entrance to the piazza was marked by one of three large marble arches erected in honor of Germanicus, engraved with records of his military conquests. To the west was the Theatre of Marcellus.