Rome – Miscellaneous TopicsRome – Miscellaneous TopicsCircus Maximus

Expanded by Julius Caesar in ~ 50 B.C.E., its purpose was to host ~4 mile-long chariot races – this required a few laps by the 12 chariots because the track was ~600 meters long and ~80 meters wide

Note the starting gates (B) and the diagonal layout of the central divider

Rome – Miscellaneous TopicsRome – Miscellaneous TopicsCircus Maximus

A famous scene in the movie Ben-Hur (1959) depicts a chariot race – it took 3 months and 8000 extras to film the scene

Rome – Miscellaneous TopicsRome – Miscellaneous TopicsGladiatorial contests

- Latin word gladius meant sword

- fought each other, wild animals, condemned criminals

- average game had 10-13 gladiators / each bout lasted 10-15 minutes, as music played

- gladiators were paid / could earn the right not to fight

- the audience (or emperor) often decided whether a losing gladiator lived (thumbs down?) or died (thumbs up?)

- only about 10% died in combat

Pollice Verso ("With a Turned Thumb"), an 1872 painting by

Jean-Léon Gérôme

Rome – Miscellaneous TopicsRome – Miscellaneous TopicsRoman baths

Public baths were popular in Rome – they

usually included hot, cold and lukewarm pools,

sauna-like facilities, and spa-like services such as

oiling and massaging

The wealthy visited the baths often – sometimes

daily

Rome – Miscellaneous TopicsRome – Miscellaneous TopicsRoman sanitation

Roman cities had sewer systems that drained toilets (under which

water flowed continuously)

The holes on the top are for sitting upon / the holes in the front are for the sponge-stick (the Roman version of toilet paper)

Rome – Miscellaneous TopicsRome – Miscellaneous TopicsTogas

Male Roman citizens wore ~20 foot-long garments made of wool called togas

over their tunics

Married Roman women wore stolas

““Hail Caesar” by AC/DCHail Caesar” by AC/DCHe be the count of Monte CristoHe be the count of Monte Cristo

Could be a quake any dayCould be a quake any dayMaybe somebody from SiamMaybe somebody from SiamBegin the era of a new rageBegin the era of a new rageKeeps lickin' all the honeyKeeps lickin' all the honey

Chewin' up the fat he rakesChewin' up the fat he rakesInstead of sending to the lionsInstead of sending to the lions

They cover him with praiseThey cover him with praise

All hail CaesarAll hail CaesarHail! Hail!Hail! Hail!

Down at the epicenterDown at the epicenterThings started heatin' upThings started heatin' up

Rockin' up the Richter scaleRockin' up the Richter scaleSwingin' in the chariotSwingin' in the chariot

Around and around we goAround and around we goThe senators rehearse the taleThe senators rehearse the tale

Starring in the ColiseumStarring in the ColiseumTied upon the rackTied upon the rack

Up comes the thumb of CaesarUp comes the thumb of CaesarTo stab you in the backTo stab you in the back

All hail CaesarAll hail CaesarHail! Hail!Hail! Hail!

Down at the epicenterDown at the epicenterThings started heatin' upThings started heatin' up

Rockin' up the Richter scaleRockin' up the Richter scaleSwingin' in the chariotSwingin' in the chariot

Around and around we goAround and around we goThe senators rehearse the taleThe senators rehearse the tale

Watch out CaesarWatch out Caesar

I said hailI said hail

Hail! Hail!Hail! Hail!

All hail CaesarAll hail CaesarHail! Hail!Hail! Hail!