Circus Maximus, The Spina (Rome)
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This was the location of the "spina", or raised middle of the Circus Maximus.
At its center, the Emperor Augustus erected an obelisk pilfered from Egypt; excavated in the 16th Century, it stands today - as the Flamino Obelisk - in the center of the Piazza del Popolo. To either end, a series of bronze dolphins marked each successive lap of the chariots that would thunder, 12 abreast, around this dividing point.
Much of what remained of the spina's base and structural supports, evident in photographs taken prior to 1962, were sadly lost during an aborted archaeological survey in the mid-1960's.
At its center, the Emperor Augustus erected an obelisk pilfered from Egypt; excavated in the 16th Century, it stands today - as the Flamino Obelisk - in the center of the Piazza del Popolo. To either end, a series of bronze dolphins marked each successive lap of the chariots that would thunder, 12 abreast, around this dividing point.
Much of what remained of the spina's base and structural supports, evident in photographs taken prior to 1962, were sadly lost during an aborted archaeological survey in the mid-1960's.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circus_Maximus
Nearby cities:
Coordinates: 41°53'9"N 12°29'9"E
- Porto 23 km
- Portus, The Harbor of Trajan 23 km
- Hadrian's Villa 24 km
- Cures 37 km
- Piano della Civita 39 km
- Norba 51 km
- Tarquinia (Ancient) 72 km
- Alba Fucens 79 km
- Vulci 93 km
- Corfinio 115 km
- Ripa 0.4 km
- San Saba 0.8 km
- Celio 1 km
- Monti 1.1 km
- Rome historical centre 2 km
- Esquilino 2.1 km
- Quartiere Garbatella 2.5 km
- Ostiense 3 km
- Ardeatino 4.5 km
- Municipio Roma XI 7.7 km
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