Circus Maximus

The Circus Maximus, was the largest "stadium" in history and at its height held between 250,000 and 300,000 spectators. 

To the people of the Roman world, a circus (Latin for circle) was a large open-air structure that was often used for chariot racetracks and doubled as a general entertainment venue.  With a track dimension of 540 by 80 meters, the Circus Maximus (meaning greatest/largest) was one of the center pieces of the Roman love of entertainment for the masses.  From circa 599 BCE to 549 CE this huge structure treated the people of Rome to massive events that thrilled the spectators. Chariot races involved teams of four, six, eight or twelve horses with the charioteers risking lif and limb for the fleeting fame that victory provided.  While four horse chariot races between the Blue, Green, Red and White teams were the most famous and popular events, a huge variety of venues occurred in Roman circuses.  Races of exotic animals, from camels to elephants were fascinating ways to keep the masses entertained. A variety of animal acts and even gladiator events often occurred at a circus while at the Circus Maximus these would be more massive and expensive. As with many Roman entertainments, attending the Circus Maximus was free of charge as an entertained and happy populous was a cornerstone of the Roman governments way to control the masses. 

The Keystone-Key to the Arch

The keystone was one of the greatest architectural discoveries of history.



A keystone is the architectural piece at the top of an arch. The keystone, using the pull of gravity, locks the other pieces of the arch into position.

A keystone can be a simple block or an elaborate decorative piece, either way it is the key to the strength of the arch design.

Roman Fortified Camps-Protection for the Legion

Be it wood and dirt or stone and concrete, the Roman fortified camp was both a place of rest and refuge for the soldiers of the legion.

At the end of each day's march, the legionnaires would sleep in a fortified camp. If no permanent base was on hand the legionnaires would build a temporary one for the night.
A temporary Roman fortified camp used the dirt from excavated by the soldiers from a protective trench to form a base for a wooden stockade (each legionnaire carried two wooden stakes for the stockade wall). A double trench design was used in areas of greater danger. A single trench was more common.

For long term garrisons the camp would be made of stone, cement and fireproof tiles.

Regardless of the building materials, all Roman camps were set out in the exact same pattern. This allowed rapid construction and more importantly instant knowledge of one's surroundings in any legion camp in the Empire.

Aqueducts-the Water of Life

The Roman aqueduct system was one of the greatest of the Roman engineering feats. Every city in the Empire needed an adequate water supply, if nature did not provide local sources than Roman engineers used aqueducts to solve the problem. The Segovia Aqueduct still suppled water to the city in the 19th century.

The Pont du Gard in France is an excellent example of the skills of the Roman engineers.

A multi-tiered system guaranteed that water would flow to the most vital aspects of a city's water system first (drinking, bathing, toilets). The upper tier was for less necessary water usage (private homes, gardens etc.). In time of drought the water was diverted from the upper tiers to only the lower until the crisis abated.

Rome itself was served by seven great aqueducts. Each serviced the needs of the cities million inhabitants. The great baths, public fountains, toilets, and sewers all relied on the millions of gallons of fresh water the aqueducts brought to the city every day.

All Roads Lead to Rome

The Romans were the greatest road builders of the Ancient World. Built to move the Army quickly to areas of need and transport goods at rates of more than twenty mile per day, roads tied the Empire together.

Building the base of the road was a fine science that included a strong foundation with proper drainage. The roads were so well constructed that many are sections are still in use today.

The standard road was 1 meter thick and 2.4 meters wide(up to 5 meters on turns and other special situations). and as straight as possible.

Up to 50,000 miles of paved road crisscrossed the Empire. It was not until the mid 20th century that any country on Earth passed this amount (the US with the construction of the interstate highway and street paving for automobiles).

Heavily used roads often showed the damage caused by iron clad chariot and wagon wheels.

Roman Flushing Toliets

Artist drawing of the toliets in the Theatre of Pompey in Rome. This was a 100 seat toliet complex.

Seats at the Roman Port City of Osta, Italy.

Toilets from Roman controlled Corinth, Greece

Sewer drainage line at the baths in Wroexeter, England

Romans were very proud of their public toilets that used running water to flush away the human waste into sewers. The seats were open to each other, approximately 46 cm apart, to encourage communication among the users. These were unisex toilets so your neighbor to one side might be male and female to the other. Toilet paper was unknown, instead you used a sponge on a stick that you dipped in fresh water, cleaned yourself and replaced for the next user.

In the last picture I find it very interesting that 1900 years ago the Romans at Wroxeter had flushing toilets while those visiting the historic site today have to use the port-a-pot seen in the background.