DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.13855#0097
CIRCUS.
89
CIRCUS.
common people. The seat of the emperor
{pulvinar or cubicuhim) was most likely in
the same situation in the Circus Maximus as
in the one above described.—The Circensian
games (Ludi Circenscs) were first instituted
by Romulus, according to the legends, when
he wished to attract the Sabine population to
Rome, for the purpose of furnishing his own
people with wives, and were celebrated in
honour of the god Consus, or Xeptunus
Equestris, from whom they were styled Con-
suales. But after the construction of the
Circus Maximus they were called indiscrimi-
nately Circenscs, Iiotnani, or Magni. They
embraced six kinds of games :—I. Cvrsvs ;
II. Locs Thojae ; III. Pugna Eqvestris ;
IV. Ceetamen Gymnicvm ; V. Vf.xatio ; VI.
Nal-machia. The two last were not peculiar
to the circus, but were exhibited also in the
amphitheatre, or in buildings appropriated
for them. The games commenced with a
grand procession (Pompa Circensis), in which
all those who were about to exhibit in the
circus, as well as persons of distinction, bore
a part. The statues of the gods formed the
most conspicuous feature in the show, which
Chariot Race in the Circus. (Florentine Gem.)
were paraded upon wooden platforms, called
fcrcula and thensae. The former were borne
upon the shoulders, as the statues of saints
are carried in modern processions ; the latter
were drawn along upon wheels.'—I. Curscs,
the races. The carriage usually employed in
the circus was drawn by two or four horses
(bigac, quadrigae). [Currus.] The usual
number of chariots which started for each
race was four. The drivers [aurigae, agita-
tores) were also divided into four companies,
each distinguished by a different colour, to
represent the four seasons of the year, and
called a factio: thus factioprasina, the green,
represented the spring; J'actio russata, red,
the summer ; /actio vereta, azure, the au-
tumn ; and /actio alba or albata, white, the
winter. Originally there were but two fac-
tions, albata and russata, and consequently
only two chariots started at each race. The
driver stood in his car within the reins, which
went round his back. This enabled him to
throw all his weight against the horses, by
leaning backwards; but it greatly enhanced
his danger in case of an upset. To avoid
this peril, a sort of knife or bill-hook was
carried at the waist, for the purpose of cut-
ting ihe reins in a case of emergency. When
all was ready, the doors of the carceres were
flung open, and the chariots were formed
abreast of the alba linea by men called mora-
tores from their duty; the signal for the
89
CIRCUS.
common people. The seat of the emperor
{pulvinar or cubicuhim) was most likely in
the same situation in the Circus Maximus as
in the one above described.—The Circensian
games (Ludi Circenscs) were first instituted
by Romulus, according to the legends, when
he wished to attract the Sabine population to
Rome, for the purpose of furnishing his own
people with wives, and were celebrated in
honour of the god Consus, or Xeptunus
Equestris, from whom they were styled Con-
suales. But after the construction of the
Circus Maximus they were called indiscrimi-
nately Circenscs, Iiotnani, or Magni. They
embraced six kinds of games :—I. Cvrsvs ;
II. Locs Thojae ; III. Pugna Eqvestris ;
IV. Ceetamen Gymnicvm ; V. Vf.xatio ; VI.
Nal-machia. The two last were not peculiar
to the circus, but were exhibited also in the
amphitheatre, or in buildings appropriated
for them. The games commenced with a
grand procession (Pompa Circensis), in which
all those who were about to exhibit in the
circus, as well as persons of distinction, bore
a part. The statues of the gods formed the
most conspicuous feature in the show, which
Chariot Race in the Circus. (Florentine Gem.)
were paraded upon wooden platforms, called
fcrcula and thensae. The former were borne
upon the shoulders, as the statues of saints
are carried in modern processions ; the latter
were drawn along upon wheels.'—I. Curscs,
the races. The carriage usually employed in
the circus was drawn by two or four horses
(bigac, quadrigae). [Currus.] The usual
number of chariots which started for each
race was four. The drivers [aurigae, agita-
tores) were also divided into four companies,
each distinguished by a different colour, to
represent the four seasons of the year, and
called a factio: thus factioprasina, the green,
represented the spring; J'actio russata, red,
the summer ; /actio vereta, azure, the au-
tumn ; and /actio alba or albata, white, the
winter. Originally there were but two fac-
tions, albata and russata, and consequently
only two chariots started at each race. The
driver stood in his car within the reins, which
went round his back. This enabled him to
throw all his weight against the horses, by
leaning backwards; but it greatly enhanced
his danger in case of an upset. To avoid
this peril, a sort of knife or bill-hook was
carried at the waist, for the purpose of cut-
ting ihe reins in a case of emergency. When
all was ready, the doors of the carceres were
flung open, and the chariots were formed
abreast of the alba linea by men called mora-
tores from their duty; the signal for the