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The Circus of Carthage is a
A brief description of the Circus of Carthage exists based on a mosaic found in
The Circus of Carthage is a Roman circus
The Roman circus (from the Classical Latin, Latin word that means "circle") was a large open-air venue used for public events in the ancient Roman Empire. The circuses were similar to the Ancient Greece, ancient Greek hippodromes, although circus ...
in Carthage
Carthage was the capital city of Ancient Carthage, on the eastern side of the Lake of Tunis in what is now Tunisia. Carthage was one of the most important trading hubs of the Ancient Mediterranean and one of the most affluent cities of the classi ...
, in present-day Tunisia
)
, image_map = Tunisia location (orthographic projection).svg
, map_caption = Location of Tunisia in northern Africa
, image_map2 =
, capital = Tunis
, largest_city = capital
, ...
. Used for chariot racing
Chariot racing ( grc-gre, ἁρματοδρομία, harmatodromia, la, ludi circenses) was one of the most popular ancient Greek, Roman, and Byzantine sports. In Greece, chariot racing played an essential role in aristocratic funeral games from ...
, it was modeled on the Circus Maximus
The Circus Maximus (Latin for "largest circus"; Italian: ''Circo Massimo'') is an ancient Roman chariot-racing stadium and mass entertainment venue in Rome, Italy. In the valley between the Aventine and Palatine hills, it was the first and lar ...
in Rome
, established_title = Founded
, established_date = 753 BC
, founder = King Romulus (legendary)
, image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg
, map_caption ...
and other circus buildings throughout the Roman Empire
The Roman Empire ( la, Imperium Romanum ; grc-gre, Βασιλεία τῶν Ῥωμαίων, Basileía tôn Rhōmaíōn) was the post-Republican period of ancient Rome. As a polity, it included large territorial holdings around the Mediterr ...
. Measuring more than 470 m in length and 30 m in width, it could house up to 45,000 spectators, roughly one third of the Circus Maximus.
History
The building seems to have been constructed sometime around 238 AD, and was used for several years before its official dedication. Salvian reports that as the Vandal armies closed in around Carthage they were met by "the sound of the people as they roared acclamations in the circus".Circus of Carthage design
A brief description of the Circus of Carthage exists based on a mosaic found in Bardo National Museum Bardo National Museum or Musée National du Bardo may refer to:
* Bardo National Museum (Algiers) in Algeria
* Bardo National Museum (Tunis)
, logo =
, image = Tunis, musée du Bardo, salle de Virgile 01.jpg
, caption = Apartments of the Be ...
in Tunis
''Tounsi'' french: Tunisois
, population_note =
, population_urban =
, population_metro = 2658816
, population_density_km2 =
, timezone1 = CET
, utc_offset1 ...
: "It is the only mosaic to show both the interior of the arena and the exterior façade, which has two arcades separated by a cornice. There also is an awning over the seats, which continue over the carceres, conveying more the appearance of an amphitheatre than a circus. The two temple-like structures above the seating are novel, as well, and may be situated at the break and finish lines."Mosaïques de Tunisie (1976) by Georges Fradier and André Martin; Roman Circuses: Arenas for Chariot Racing (1986) by John H. Humphrey.
Building usage
The Circus of Carthage was Rome's second largest circus, one that rivaled the Circus Maximus. The arena while smaller hosted many gamblers betting on the events there such as gladiatorial bouts and chariot races.Building materials
Remains from the Circus Maximus, specifically the ''spina'' (a dividing barrier) was put into the Circus of Carthage, as well as the Circus of Maxentius and the city of Vienne located in France. These remains of the ''spina'' are marble.See also
*Hippodrome
The hippodrome ( el, ἱππόδρομος) was an ancient Greek stadium for horse racing and chariot racing. The name is derived from the Greek words ''hippos'' (ἵππος; "horse") and ''dromos'' (δρόμος; "course"). The term is used i ...
– a Greek arena also used for chariot racing
* Carthage Punic Ports
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Circus Of Carthage 238 Buildings and structures completed in the 3rd centuryCarthage
Carthage was the capital city of Ancient Carthage, on the eastern side of the Lake of Tunis in what is now Tunisia. Carthage was one of the most important trading hubs of the Ancient Mediterranean and one of the most affluent cities of the classi ...
Carthage