DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49928#0095
PLATE XXVIII.
Fig. i.—Ludi Circenses.
Relief on a Sarcophagus at Foligno. 4 ft. 3 in. long
BY 2 FEET HIGH. ROMAN, IMPERIAL PERIOD.
Ann. de lb Inst., 1870, Pl. L. M.
Baumeister, Denkmiiler, fig. 2340.
The characteristic features of the circus are clearly shown.
On the right is the porta triumphalis, surmounted by a quadriga
and a trophy, on the left the carceres, with the box of the
giver of the games (editor spectaculi) above. Between the two
runs the low wall of the spina with the metae at each end.
Eight chariots are in the race-course. One has already turned
the meta on the right and is in the last lap. Two more are
racing to turn first. One of them has tried to cut in between
his adversary and the wall, but has come to grief, his off trace
horse having stumbled. A fourth charioteer takes a wider curve
and is throwing his whole weight on the reins to bring the horses
round. A fifth follows hard after, striving to get in between
the second and fourth. Then come the three last chariots, all
of them obviously out of the race. The hindmost has come
to grief at the lower metae, the other two seem to be reining
in their horses. The drivers are aided by several mates, two
of whom are on horseback, one cheering on the victorious
chariot, the other riding to whip up the laggard. Two other
men on foot are cheering on or looking at their friends. They
hold objects in their hands, which are taken to be jugs of water
to cast on the wheels during the race.
Finally in the centre of the spina, the judge is standing to
give the verdict. Unlike the drivers and their mates he is in
full dress, wearing a toga. Opposite to him on the right is a man,
in slave’s dress, leaning on a staff, who probably helps the
judge by marking the winning line.
The details of the spina are given with great minuteness (cf.
Pl. 31, figs. 1, 2 ; Pl. 32, fig. 2 ; Pl. 33, fig. 6). At the ends
are the three conical metae. In the centre rises an obelisk,
below which, on the right, is Cybele seated, riding on a lion,
beneath her sacred pine. On the left of the obelisk is an altar
and a small shrine. Further on the left is a row of dolphins
on a drum supported by pillars. They are approached by a
ladder, near which stands a slave, whose duty it is to turn one
round at each lap. Next is another shrine and a statue
of Victory. On the right of Cybele is a statue, and a row of
seven eggs, mounted on pillars. Like the dolphins these are
used to indicate the number of laps run; a second set stands
near the other meta. Beside it is another shrine and statue
of Victory. In the race-course itself, in the lower right-
hand corner, stands a little temple with a sacred myrtle-tree,
dedicated to Venus Myrtea or Murcia. Higher up, near the
entrance gate, is a box-like chariot (tenscp, which has been
used in the procession (cf. fig. 5).
The carceres on the left are eight compartments with lattice
doors, and Hermae on the posts between. The chariots were
confined in these until the signal was given, when the doors
were opened simultaneously and they galloped out.
The box of the editor is over the entrance door in the
centre of the carceres, which is not shown in the relief
(Pl. 29, fig. 6 ; Pl. 31, fig. 6). It is ornamented on both sides
with a row of statues and hung with curtains. The editor him-
self sits between two friends, holding a sceptre in his left hand,
and in his right the napkin (mappa) with which the signal to
start was given. The peculiarities of the chariots are well
shown. The off side trace horse has his tail tied up in a bob,
to prevent its becoming entangled in the wheels. The drivers
have rows of straps wound round their bodies and their wrists
(cf fig. 2 ; Pl. 31, fig. 7) and wear caps. It should be noted
that although there are eight chariots, they only belong to two
sides or factiones, this being indicated by the two riders and
two water-bearers, one for each side. These factiones were
organisations which provided the whole show paid for by the
giver of the games. They were distinguished by colours, worn
by the charioteers. Red (factio russatcp and white (albatap
were the colours first adopted, blue (veneta) and green
(prasinap being afterwards added (cf. Pl. 32, fig. 1).
Fig. 2.—Auriga.
Mosaic found in Rome, now in the Museo delle
Terme. From a Photograph.
The costume seems to be a closely fitting tricot, covering
arms and legs, over which a leather tunic is worn. The body
and legs are protected against the results of a spill, especially
kicks from a horse’s hoof, by rows of leather thongs (cf. Pl. 31,
fig. 7 ; Pl. 32, fig. 1). The whole costume had the merit of
fitting so closely that there was little danger of being caught by
the clothes and dragged. The sole danger lay in the reins,
which were wound round the drivers’ waists, but a knife for
cutting these was worn in the belt. The auriga's cap, like his
tunic, is coloured and has a plume.
Figs. 3, 4.—Gladiators.
Wall-paintings in the Peristyle of a House (Reg. i,
INS. 3 DOM. 23) I FT. 7 INS. BY I FT. 9 IN., AND I FT. 7 IN.
BY 2 FT. I IN.
Bulletino delb Instituto,G&<), p. 241-2.
Sogliano, le Pittnre Murali Campane, p. 138, No. 665-6.
In fig. 3 the victorious gladiator, whose high crest (galea
cristata), oblong shield (scutum), loin-cloth (subligaculum),
single greave (ocrea), and straight sword, show him to be a
secutor or Samnite (cf. Pl. 30, fig. 10), is rushing on to slay his
adversary, but is held back by one of the umpires (cf. Pl. 30,
fig. 1 ; Pl. 31, figs. 3, 4), who forces him to wait for the verdict
of the spectators. His adversary is (as was the custom) a
Thracian, with greaves on both legs and (presumably) a curved
sword. In fig. 4 we have the same result, the Thracian being
again defeated.
Fig. 5.—The Pompa Circensis.
Relief on the Cover of a Sarcophagus in the
Cloisters of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura, Rome. 6 ft.
7 IN. WIDE BY I FT. 4 IN. HIGH. ROUGH WORK OF THE
Later Empire.
Ann. d. Inst., 1839, Pl. N. 1.
Matz-Duhn, Bildwerke, No. 2245.
Gerhard, Ant ike Bildwerke, Pl. 120, 1; p. 375.
Nibby, Guida di Roma (1891), p. 231.
Daremberg et Saglio, Diet., fig. 1528.
The games in the circus were opened by a long procession,
in which all the features of a Roman triumph were observed.
55
Fig. i.—Ludi Circenses.
Relief on a Sarcophagus at Foligno. 4 ft. 3 in. long
BY 2 FEET HIGH. ROMAN, IMPERIAL PERIOD.
Ann. de lb Inst., 1870, Pl. L. M.
Baumeister, Denkmiiler, fig. 2340.
The characteristic features of the circus are clearly shown.
On the right is the porta triumphalis, surmounted by a quadriga
and a trophy, on the left the carceres, with the box of the
giver of the games (editor spectaculi) above. Between the two
runs the low wall of the spina with the metae at each end.
Eight chariots are in the race-course. One has already turned
the meta on the right and is in the last lap. Two more are
racing to turn first. One of them has tried to cut in between
his adversary and the wall, but has come to grief, his off trace
horse having stumbled. A fourth charioteer takes a wider curve
and is throwing his whole weight on the reins to bring the horses
round. A fifth follows hard after, striving to get in between
the second and fourth. Then come the three last chariots, all
of them obviously out of the race. The hindmost has come
to grief at the lower metae, the other two seem to be reining
in their horses. The drivers are aided by several mates, two
of whom are on horseback, one cheering on the victorious
chariot, the other riding to whip up the laggard. Two other
men on foot are cheering on or looking at their friends. They
hold objects in their hands, which are taken to be jugs of water
to cast on the wheels during the race.
Finally in the centre of the spina, the judge is standing to
give the verdict. Unlike the drivers and their mates he is in
full dress, wearing a toga. Opposite to him on the right is a man,
in slave’s dress, leaning on a staff, who probably helps the
judge by marking the winning line.
The details of the spina are given with great minuteness (cf.
Pl. 31, figs. 1, 2 ; Pl. 32, fig. 2 ; Pl. 33, fig. 6). At the ends
are the three conical metae. In the centre rises an obelisk,
below which, on the right, is Cybele seated, riding on a lion,
beneath her sacred pine. On the left of the obelisk is an altar
and a small shrine. Further on the left is a row of dolphins
on a drum supported by pillars. They are approached by a
ladder, near which stands a slave, whose duty it is to turn one
round at each lap. Next is another shrine and a statue
of Victory. On the right of Cybele is a statue, and a row of
seven eggs, mounted on pillars. Like the dolphins these are
used to indicate the number of laps run; a second set stands
near the other meta. Beside it is another shrine and statue
of Victory. In the race-course itself, in the lower right-
hand corner, stands a little temple with a sacred myrtle-tree,
dedicated to Venus Myrtea or Murcia. Higher up, near the
entrance gate, is a box-like chariot (tenscp, which has been
used in the procession (cf. fig. 5).
The carceres on the left are eight compartments with lattice
doors, and Hermae on the posts between. The chariots were
confined in these until the signal was given, when the doors
were opened simultaneously and they galloped out.
The box of the editor is over the entrance door in the
centre of the carceres, which is not shown in the relief
(Pl. 29, fig. 6 ; Pl. 31, fig. 6). It is ornamented on both sides
with a row of statues and hung with curtains. The editor him-
self sits between two friends, holding a sceptre in his left hand,
and in his right the napkin (mappa) with which the signal to
start was given. The peculiarities of the chariots are well
shown. The off side trace horse has his tail tied up in a bob,
to prevent its becoming entangled in the wheels. The drivers
have rows of straps wound round their bodies and their wrists
(cf fig. 2 ; Pl. 31, fig. 7) and wear caps. It should be noted
that although there are eight chariots, they only belong to two
sides or factiones, this being indicated by the two riders and
two water-bearers, one for each side. These factiones were
organisations which provided the whole show paid for by the
giver of the games. They were distinguished by colours, worn
by the charioteers. Red (factio russatcp and white (albatap
were the colours first adopted, blue (veneta) and green
(prasinap being afterwards added (cf. Pl. 32, fig. 1).
Fig. 2.—Auriga.
Mosaic found in Rome, now in the Museo delle
Terme. From a Photograph.
The costume seems to be a closely fitting tricot, covering
arms and legs, over which a leather tunic is worn. The body
and legs are protected against the results of a spill, especially
kicks from a horse’s hoof, by rows of leather thongs (cf. Pl. 31,
fig. 7 ; Pl. 32, fig. 1). The whole costume had the merit of
fitting so closely that there was little danger of being caught by
the clothes and dragged. The sole danger lay in the reins,
which were wound round the drivers’ waists, but a knife for
cutting these was worn in the belt. The auriga's cap, like his
tunic, is coloured and has a plume.
Figs. 3, 4.—Gladiators.
Wall-paintings in the Peristyle of a House (Reg. i,
INS. 3 DOM. 23) I FT. 7 INS. BY I FT. 9 IN., AND I FT. 7 IN.
BY 2 FT. I IN.
Bulletino delb Instituto,G&<), p. 241-2.
Sogliano, le Pittnre Murali Campane, p. 138, No. 665-6.
In fig. 3 the victorious gladiator, whose high crest (galea
cristata), oblong shield (scutum), loin-cloth (subligaculum),
single greave (ocrea), and straight sword, show him to be a
secutor or Samnite (cf. Pl. 30, fig. 10), is rushing on to slay his
adversary, but is held back by one of the umpires (cf. Pl. 30,
fig. 1 ; Pl. 31, figs. 3, 4), who forces him to wait for the verdict
of the spectators. His adversary is (as was the custom) a
Thracian, with greaves on both legs and (presumably) a curved
sword. In fig. 4 we have the same result, the Thracian being
again defeated.
Fig. 5.—The Pompa Circensis.
Relief on the Cover of a Sarcophagus in the
Cloisters of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura, Rome. 6 ft.
7 IN. WIDE BY I FT. 4 IN. HIGH. ROUGH WORK OF THE
Later Empire.
Ann. d. Inst., 1839, Pl. N. 1.
Matz-Duhn, Bildwerke, No. 2245.
Gerhard, Ant ike Bildwerke, Pl. 120, 1; p. 375.
Nibby, Guida di Roma (1891), p. 231.
Daremberg et Saglio, Diet., fig. 1528.
The games in the circus were opened by a long procession,
in which all the features of a Roman triumph were observed.
55