Circus Maximus

ancient Rome · chariot racing · stadiums

Massive racing track. The Circus Maximus was huge, stretching 621 meters long and 118 meters wide, nestled between two famous Roman hills called the Aventine and Palatine. That makes it longer than six football fields!

Chariot racing thrills. Romans packed into the stadium to watch horses and chariots race around the track at incredible speeds. Drivers competed fiercely, and fans cheered loudly for their favorite teams.

Room for everyone. Over 150,000 people could watch races at the Circus Maximus all at once, making it the biggest stadium in all of ancient Rome. That's like filling up a modern-day sports stadium three times over!

Model for the Empire. The Circus Maximus was so successful that Romans built similar stadiums called circuses in cities throughout their empire. Every one copied its winning design.

Now a peaceful park. Today, the Circus Maximus is no longer a busy stadium but a public park in Rome where people can walk and relax in the same spot where ancient fans once cheered.