The performance space of the Roman circus was normally, despite its name, an oblong rectangle of two linear sections of
, separated by a median strip running along the length of about two thirds the track, joined at one end with a semicircular section and at the other end with an undivided section of track closed (in most cases) by a distinctive starting gate known as the
, thereby creating a circuit for the races. The
The track of the circus was normally surrounded by ascending seating along the length of both straight sides and around the curved end, though there were sometimes interruptions in the seating to provide access to the circus or the seating, or to provide for special viewing platforms for dignitaries and officials. One circus, that at Antinoöpolis (Egypt), displays a distinct gap of some 50m between the carceres and the start of the ascending seating where there is apparently no structure. This appears to be an exception.
The great majority of circuses fit the description above. Those that do not display two different variations: that at Emerita Augusta (Mérida, Spain), where the carceres end is substituted by a slightly curved 'straight' end joined to the straight sides of ascending seating by rounded corners of ascending seating; and a few in which the carceres end is substituted by a second semi-circular end to produce an oval shaped arena. These latter circuses are normally small (Nicopolis (Greece) and Aphrodisias (Turkey)), and should probably be considered stadia.
Differently from other major Roman structures circuses frequently evolved over long periods of time from a simple track in a field, through generations of wooden seating structures (frequently destroyed by fire or rot), before they finally began to be converted to stone. Although circuses such as the
(Italy) may have existed in some form from as early as around 500 BC, circuses were mainly constructed during the 400 years between 200 BC and 200 AD.
The comparative dimensions of a circus may be measured in two basic ways: by the length of the track, and by the
. Other dimensions, such as the external dimensions of the structure may vary considerably depending on the location, the site, and on specific architectural characteristics.
The simplest comparative measurement of a circus is its track length. This is the most easily measured dimension, as it only requires small excavations at either end of the centreline. It is very probable that this can be done even when the circus is buried under subsequent constructions. Track lengths may vary from the 245 m of the circus at Gerasa (Jordan), to the 621 m of the Circus Maximus (Italy).
The alternative comparative dimension is that of seating capacity. This is much more complex to measure as it requires that the dimensions of the original vertical and horizontal extent of the inclined seating be re-established. In many cases the full structure of the inclined seating has been destroyed beyond the point where this can be measured, or at the least would require a great deal more excavation than that required for the measurement of the track length. Seating capacity may vary from around 15,000 people at Gerasa (Jordan), to 150,000 (some estimates put it up to 250,000) at the Circus Maximus (Italy).
Circuses do not appear to have been constructed with any special compass orientation. Those that are well identified can be found with their round ends oriented around the compass. Examples include: N. Gerasa (Jordan); NE. Antinoöpolis (Egypt); E. Circus of Maxentius (Italy); E.
(Britain); SE.
(Italy); S. Tyrus (Lebanon); SW. Gortyn (Greece); W. Circus of Nero (Italy).
Circuses can be found at three distinct locations relative to the towns to which they belong:
, or starting gates, had a distinctive, slanted, slightly curved, plan form, designed to compensate for what would otherwise be significant differences in the distances from the individual starting gates to the start of the first section of straight track on the right hand side of the
). The
The best preserved circuses include: Emerita Augusta (Spain), Caesarea Maritima (coastal) (Israel), Circus of Maxentius (Italy), Gerasa (Jordan), Tyrus (Lebanon), Leptis Magna (Libya).
Unless otherwise indicated the coordinates in the following list are of a point that lies within the space of a circus. For the remaining circuses (those whose detailed location is not known) the point is for a location within the space of the historic nucleus of the associated town, or for a location within the associated archaeological site. These points are probably within 1.5 kilometres of the site of the circus, as a circus was almost always within this distance from its associated town.
(ordered initially by country; number of circuses at latest count (2012-04-01): 63)
|
|
Auzia[
Auzia Names of cities in Algerie in (A.D. 138) Roman times and names now from E-DZ Community Education & Learning] | Algerian History, Culture, Art, Law, Politics (order by start date; start date: 21 Dec 2008).
| Sour El-Ghozlane (= pre-independence Aumale) | Algeria | (not the circus; historic nucleus of current town) | cited in Humphrey;[
John H. Humphrey: Roman Circuses: Arenas for Chariot Racing. University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles 1986, .
] no online circus-specific information found. | |
| Colonia Claudia Caesarea | Cherchell | Algeria | | cited in Humphrey;[
Cherchell The Circus Cherchel at circusmaximus.us.
] neither the form nor any original structure is visible. | (may not be oriented to north)[
] |
| Saldae | Béjaïa | Algeria | (not the circus; historic nucleus of current town) | cited in Humphrey; | |
| Setifis | Sétif | Algeria | | cited in Humphrey;[
Setif The Circus Circus at Setif at circusmaximus.us.
] only the southern, curved, end remains visible; U-shaped; approximate (formerly visible) track length: c450m;[ approximate (formerly visible) track width: c70m.] | (may not be oriented to north)[
] |
| Alexandria | Alexandria | Egypt | (not the circus; approximate nucleus of Roman town; centred on Pompey's Pillar)cited in Humphrey; | |
| Antinopolis | Mallawi (c10km) | Egypt | | cited in Humphrey;[
Antinopolis Wikimapia location: Antinopolis.
] visible track width: c45m;[ U-shaped; the carceres are c50m beyond the ends of the ascending seating at the open south-west end; clearly visible and unobstructed.] | |
| Oxyrhynchus | Beni Mazar (c15km) | Egypt | (not the circus; archaeological site of Roman town) | cited in Humphrey; | |
| Camulodunum | Colchester | England | | location information;[Camulodunum THE ROMAN CIRCUS VICTRICENSIS IN COLCHESTER .] archaeological information;[
Camulodunum Colchester Archaeological Trust.
] official archaeological information;[
Camulodunum Roman Circus 200 m south of Abbey House, EHER/SMR Number 46327 at Unlocking Essex's Past website from Heritage Conservation at Essex County Council.
] length: c450m;[ width: c75m.] | |
Arelate
(Colonia Iulia Paterna Arelatensium Sextanorum) | Arles | France | | cited in Humphrey;[
Arelate Cirque romain , at Patrimoine de la Ville d'Arles] | Ville d'Arles > Barriol / Plan-du-Bourg .
c40% of curved south-west end is minimally visible; the remaining structure lies to the north-east under a road junction and housing; length: c450m;[
Arelate Cirque romain d'Arles at Arles Office de Tourisme Visit Places to visit .
][
Arelate Cirque romain Description , at Patrimoine de la Ville d'Arles] | Ville d'Arles > Barriol / Plan-du-Bourg .
width: c101m;[ visible track width: c80m.][
Arelate Wikimapia location: Arelate.
] | (may not be oriented to north)[
Arelate The Circus Arles at circusmaximus.us.
]
|
| Lugdunum | Lyon | France | (approximate hypothesised location[
Lugdunum Cirque antique de Lyon and Cirque antique de Lyon#Hypothèses de localisation .
]) | cited in Chase;[Raymond G. Chase: Ancient Hellenistic and Roman amphitheatres, stadiums, and theatres: the way they look now. P. E. Randall, Portsmouth 2002, ] hypothesised location. | |
| Mediolanum Santonum | Saintes | France | (not the circus; historic nucleus of the town) | cited in Humphrey; | |
| Vienna | Vienne | France | (possibly very approximate; the satellite image at this location is extremely distorted) | Cited in Humphrey; | (may not be oriented to north)[
Vienna The Circus Vienne at circusmaximus.us.
]
|
| Augusta Treverorum | Trier | Germany | | Cited in Humphrey;[
Augusta satellite photo from LIVIUS Articles on Ancient History] | Augusta Treverorum (Trier) > Trier: Circus.
[
Augusta Wikimapia location: Augusta Treverorum Roman circus.
] plan of Roman town[
Augusta Archäologie in Trier (in German) from Universität Trier] | Fachbereiche und Fächer Fachbereich III > Klassische Archäologie Was Archäologie in Trier.
showing location of circus; length: c450m.[
Augusta Trier: Circus at LIVIUS Articles on Ancient History] | Germania Inferior Topography > Augusta Treverorum (Trier).
| |
| Ancient Corinth (Colonia Iulia Flavia Augusta Corinthiensis) | Corinth | Greece | (hypothesised and partially excavated location) | discussion about the evidence for a circus;[
Corinth
]
target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> A Roman Circus in Corinth at
target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> History journals – Hesperia, paper reference: David Gilman Romano, "A Roman Circus in Corinth," in Hesperia 74, 2005, pp. 585–611.
plan showing the hypothesised location of the circus[
Corinth Figure 11. Roman Corinth, ca. A.D. 50, and a portion of the land divided between the long walls illustrating the north–south roadways. from Corinth Computer Project] | Greek and Roman Corinth 44 BC – Colonia Laus Iulia Corinthiensis (Figure 11).
and;[
Corinth Figure 11. Roman Corinth, ca. A.D. 50, and a portion of the land divided between the long walls illustrating the north–south roadways from Corinth Computer Project] | Greek and Roman Corinth > Colonia Laus Iulia Corinthiensis, 44 BC (Figure 11).
hypothesised and partially excavated location.[
Corinth Wikimapia location: Corinth Roman circus (hypothesised and partially excavated location).
] | |
| Gortyn | Agioi Deka (c1.5 km) | Greece | | AQUASITE: Information on 50 selected Roman aqueducts > Gortyn(a) (Greece / Crete). visible track length: c375m;[
Gortyn Wikimapia location: Gortyn Roman circus.
] visible track width: c50m;[ U-shaped plan form clearly visible; space 30% open agricultural land, 70% covered by orchard trees.] | (may not be oriented to north)[
Gortyn The Circus Circus of Gortyn at circusmaximus.us.
]
|
| Nicopolis | Preveza (c7km) | Greece | | referred to as a stadium;[
Nicopolis Wikimapia location: Nicopolis Roman circus.
] very small for a circus; visible track length: c215m;[ visible track width: c20m;][ double-U-shaped plan form with both rounded ends clearly visible; the space is unoccupied by any modern structures.] | |
| Thessalonica | Thessaloniki | Greece | | | Thessalonica >location[
Thessalonica Wikimapia location: Thessalonica Roman circus.
] (the circus is marked 'Ancient Hippodrome'); archaeological map of historical centre of town,[
Thessalonica archaeological map of walled historical centre of Thessalonica.
] showing location of hippodrome/circus (in Greek; hippodrome = Ιππόδρομος); approximate length inferred from[ and:][ c525m.]| |
| Rhodes | Rhodes | Greece | | | |
| Caesarea Maritima (coastal) | Caesarea | Israel | | cited in Humphrey;[
Caesarea The Circus Caesarea at circusmaximus.us.
] on the coast; parallel to the coast; visible track length: c290m;[
Caesarea Wikimapia location: Caesarea Maritima Roman circus (coastal).
] visible track width: c45m;[ U-shaped plan form clearly visible; structure substantially complete; few modern structures constructed within the space.] | (may not be oriented to north)[
] |
| Caesarea Maritima (inland) | Caesarea | Israel | | c1km inland from the coast; visible track length: c410m;[
Caesarea Wikimapia location: Caesarea Maritima Roman circus (inland).
] visible track width: c80m;[ form substantially visible; apparently U-shaped; the space is unoccupied by any modern structures.] | (may not be oriented to north) |
| Aquileia | Aquileia | Italy | | cited in Humphrey;[
Aquileia The Circus Aquileia at circusmaximus.us.
] track length measured from location information: c460m;[Aquileia Wikimapia location: Aquileia Roman circus.
] track width measured from location information: c80m. | (may not be oriented to north)[
] |
| Bovillae | Marino, Lazio | Italy | | cited in Humphrey;[
Bovillae L'antica Bovillae Il Circo di Bovillae at parcodibovillae.org PROTEZIONE DELL'AREA DELL'ANTICA BOVILLAE .
] information and photos in English;[
Bovillae English page The Roman stadium of Boville at parcodibovillae.org PROTEZIONE DELL'AREA DELL'ANTICA BOVILLAE .
] (track?) length: 328.50m;[ (track?) width: 60m;][ location centred on the only visible remains – three stone arches][
Bovillae Wikimapia location: Bovillae Roman circus.
] (part of the carceres). | |
| Mediolanum | Milan | Italy | | Cited in Chase;[
Mediolanum The Circus Milan at circusmaximus.us.
][
Mediolanum Wikimapia location: Mediolanum Roman circus.
] track length: 460m;[
Mediolanum J.H.Humphrey, Roman Circuses, Londra 1986, p.614.] track width: 67/68m;[
Mediolanum Wikimapia location: Milan Roman circus (tower at the north western corner).
] the main body of the circus lay SSE of this tower. | (may not be oriented to north)[
] |
Rome
Circus Flaminius | Rome | Italy | | Cited in Humphrey;[
Circus Wikimapia location: Circus Flaminius, Rome.
] estimates of size are: length 260–500 m,[
Circus Circus Flaminius.
][
Circus Circus Flaminius – Samuel Ball Platner, 1929, via http://penelope.uchicago.edu/ at the University of Chicago.
] width 100m. | |
Rome
Circus of Maxentius, a.k.a. Circus of Caracalla | Rome | Italy | | Visible track length: c490m;[
Circus Wikimapia location: Circus of Maxentius, Rome.
] visible track width: c80m;[ form clearly visible; U-shaped; the space is unoccupied by any modern structures; many parts of the structure are visible.] | (may not be oriented to north)[
Circus The Circus Maxentius at circusmaximus.us.
]
|
Rome
Circus Maximus | Rome | Italy | | Track length: c621m;[
Circus Circus Maximus#Republican era.
] track width: c150m; | |
Rome
Circus of Nero, a.k.a. Circus of Caligula, or Vatican Circus | Rome | Italy | | Cited in Humphrey;[
Circus Wikimapia location: Circus of Nero (location of the spina obelisk until 1586).
] the obelisk was moved to its current location in Saint Peter's Square in 1586.[
Circus Wikimapia location: Circus of Nero (location of the obelisk since 1586).
] | (may not be oriented to north)[
Circus The Circus Vatican Circus at circusmaximus.us.
]
|
Rome
Circus Varianus; Circo Variano | Rome | Italy | | Cited in Humphrey;[
Circus Wikimapia location: Circus Varianus, Rome.
] length: 565m;[
Circus Circo Variano at Italian Wikipedia.
] width: 125m. | (may not be oriented to north)[
Circus The Circus Varianus at circusmaximus.us.
]
|
| Gadara | Umm Qais | Jordan | | Cited in Humphrey;[Gadara Gadara (Umm Quais) Topographische Bestandkarte 2007 (archaeological site map) from Research projects geographical order Gadara/Umm Qais (Jordanien) at Deutsches Archäologisches Institut (DAI) .] indicates a location for what is described as a hippodrome.[
Gadara Wikimapia location: Gadara hippodrome.
] | |
| Gerasa | Jerash | Jordan | | cited in Humphrey;[
Gerasa Wikimapia location: Gerasa Roman circus.
] visible track width: c50m;[ form clearly visible; U-shaped; the space is unoccupied by any modern structures; a great deal of the structure still stands.] | (may not be oriented to north)[
Gerasa The Circus Gerasa at circusmaximus.us.
]
|
Berytus
Beirut Hippodrome | Beirut | Lebanon | | cited in Humphrey;[
Berytus Wikimapia location: Colonia Iulia Augusta Felix Berytus Roman hippodrome.
] this may, or may not, be the same structure as the circus. | |
| Tyre Hippodrome | Tyre | Lebanon | | cited in Humphrey;[
Tyrus Wikimapia location: Tyrus Roman circus.
] visible track width: c80m;[ form clearly visible; U-shaped; the space is unoccupied by any modern structures; a great deal of the structure is still visible.] | (may not be oriented to north)[
Tyrus The Circus Tyre at circusmaximus.us.
]
|
| Cyrene | Shahhat | Libya | | cited in Humphrey;[
Cyrene Wikimapia location: Cyrene Roman circus.
][
Cyrene The Circus Circus at Cyrene at circusmaximus.us.
] visible track width: c45m;[ form reasonably visible; U-shaped; the space is unoccupied by any modern structures; little of the structure is still visible; sometimes referred to as a hippodrome.] | (may not be oriented to north)[
] |
| Leptis Magna | Khoms OR Al Khums (c3km) | Libya | | cited in Humphrey;[
Leptis Wikimapia location: Leptis Magna Roman circus.
] visible track width: c75m;[ form clearly visible; U-shaped; the space is unoccupied by any modern structures; some of the structure is still visible.] | (may not be oriented to north)[
Leptis The Circus Leptis Magna at circusmaximus.us.
]
|
| Aeminium | Coimbra | Portugal | (not the circus; nucleus of the Roman town) | believed to have existed, but unconfirmed; archaeological information about the Roman town;[
Aeminium Aeminium at Museu Nacional de Machado de Castro] | English Version.
[
Aeminium Aeminium (in Portuguese), at Museu Nacional de Machado de Castro Mini-Sítios.
] reference to a suggested location for the circus (Praça do Comércio); suggested location.[
Aeminium Wikimapia location: suggested location for Aeminium Roman circus.
] | |
| Balsa | Tavira | Portugal | | cited in Humphrey;[
Balsa O Urbanismo de Balsa Romana (from 8:50; dimensions given at 9:11) at Campo Arqueológico de Tavira.
] that site states "the topographic marks of the permit a reasonably rigorous survey"; length: c375m;[ width: c80m.] | |
| Miróbriga | Santiago do Cacém (c2km) | Portugal | | cited in Chase;[
Miróbriga Wikimapia location: Miróbriga Roman circus.
] visible track width: c70m;[ form clearly visible; U-shaped; the space is unoccupied by any modern structures; little of the structure is still visible.] | (may not be oriented to north)[
Miróbriga The Circus Circus of Mirobriga at circusmaximus.us.
]
|
| Olisipo | Lisbon | Portugal | | in what is today the 'Rossio'; an account (in Portuguese) of excavations which uncovered a section of the spina of the circus can be found at.[
Olissipona A Cronologia do Circo de Olisipo by IPPAR (now IGESPAR); published as: Revista Portuguesa de Arqueologia. volume 5. número 2. 2002, pp 245–275, "A Cronologia do Circo de Olisipo: a Terra Sigillata", Eurico Sepúlveda and others.
] | |
| Sirmium | Sremska Mitrovica | Serbia | | cited in Humphrey;[
Sirmium archaeological plan of Roman Sirmium from Sirmium Palatium Imperiale at Carska Palata Sirmium.
] length: c450m;[
Sirmium Sirmium#Archeological findings.
] width: c150m;[ the structure lies buried some 2–4 m under the current town centre, just to the north of the partially excavated palace; only very small sections have been excavated.] | |
| Calagurris | Calahorra | Spain | | cited in Humphrey;[
Calagurris Cidade Turismo Monumentos Arqueología Romana at Ayuntamiento de Calahorra .
] length c300-350m.[
Calagurris Wikimapia location: Calagurris Roman circus.
] | |
| Cáparra | Capera | Spain | (not the circus; nucleus of the Roman town) | cited in Humphrey;[
Cáparra Wikimapia location: Cáparra Roman circus.
] and Spanish Wikipedia[
Cáparra Cáparra at Spanish Wikipedia.
] is of the ruins of the Roman city only; there is no indication of the location of the circus. | |
| Corduba | Córdoba | Spain | | location from Wikimapia and others;[
Corduba Wikimapia location: Corduba Roman circus.
][
Corduba Cordoba Roman circus at Artencordoba.com Roman Córdoba (see also: plan of Roman Cordoba ; and: detailed location map of the circus).
] length: c370m;[ entirely buried under the existing city centre; virtually no remains visible.] | |
Emerita Augusta
Circus Maximus (Mérida) | Mérida | Spain | | Cited in Humphrey;[
Emerita Wikimapia location: Emerita Augusta Roman circus.
] visible track width: c85m;[ form clearly visible; U-shaped but without the distinctive slanted 'flat' carceres end seen in many other circuses; instead the 'flat' end is slightly rounded; the space is unoccupied by any modern structures; much of the structure is still visible.] | (may not be oriented to north)[
Emerita The Circus Emerita Augusta at circusmaximus.us.
]
|
| Italica | Santiponce | Spain | (not the circus; nucleus of the Roman town) | cited in Humphrey;[
Italica Roman sites by list Spain Italica at Imperium Roman sites.
] the circus lies under the centre of the existing old town of Santiponce; nothing is visible; note that the very large amphitheatre at Italica is sometimes referred to as a circus. | |
| Saguntum | Sagunto | Spain | | cited in Humphrey;[
Saguntum Wikimapia location: Saguntum Roman circus.
][
Saguntum Roman sites by list Spain Sagunto at Imperium Roman sites.
] the circus lies buried under the existing town; only the gate is visible;[
Saguntum Wikimapia location: Saguntum Roman circus (excavated gate).
] length: c350m;[
Saguntum Wikimapia location: Saguntum Roman circus (information, including dimensions, in Spanish).
] width: c73m. | (may not be oriented to north)[
Saguntum The Circus Segunto at circusmaximus.us.
]
|
| Tarraco | Tarragona | Spain | | cited in Humphrey;[
Tarraco at .
] track width: c75m. | (may not be oriented to north)[
Tarraco The Circus Tarragona at circusmaximus.us.
]
|
| Toletum | Toledo | Spain | | Cited in Humphrey;[
Toletum The Circus Toledo at circusmaximus.us.
][
Toletum Wikimapia location: Toletum Roman circus.
] visible width: c75m.[
Toletum Wikimapia location: Toletum Roman circus (curved end).
] | (may not be oriented to north)[
] |
| | Zafra | Spain | (not the circus; historic nucleus of town) | cited in Humphrey;[
Zafra Zafra#Roman era (article accessed: 2012-03-01).
] the town appears to have no significant Roman remains other than those of some 20 Roman villas in the surrounding area;[ no online circus-specific information found.] | |
| Nova Trajana Bostra | Bosra | Syria | | cited in Humphrey;[
Bostra Plan de l'Ancienne Ville de Bosra montrant l'emplacement de tous les monuments connus. B&W, 37 x 25 cm, scale by approximation ~ 1:6,100. Shows in red the boundaries of the site at UNESCO Ancient City of Bosra.
][
Bostra Plan de Bosra (circus identified as a hippodrome) from In-Depth History Plan of the City Plan of the City at Bosracity.com English.
] visible track length: c430m;[
Bostra Wikimapia location: Nova Trajana Bostra Roman circus.
] visible track width: c110m;[ form clearly visible; U-shaped; the space is virtually unoccupied by any modern structures; much of the structure still stands.] | (may not be oriented to north)[
Bostra The Circus Bostra at circusmaximus.us.
]
|
| Laodicea ad Mare | Latakia | Syria | (not the circus; historic nucleus of the town) | cited in Humphrey; | |
Abthugni[
Abthugni+Commodum map from DocArtis Progetti TUNISIA: Projet de gestion du patrimoine culturel Bibliografie B0000018 Pflaum H. G., Romanisation de l'ancien territoire de la Carthage punique; The full article and map can be found from: Pflaum H. G., "Romanisation de l'ancien territoire de la Carthage punique" - in Antiquités africaines, 4, 1970. pp. 75-118. (the full map is on the last page; a high resolution version of the complete map may be obtained by using the scaling facilities of the site to enlarge the map, and then saving the resulting image).
][
Abthugni Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World, Edited by Richard J. A. Talbert, Map 32 Carthago; textual directory to map available from: http://press.princeton.edu/B_ATLAS.ZIP BATL032_.PDF (reference to Abthugni and Henchir-es-Souar on directory page 494 (PDF page 2)).
] | Henchir Souar OR Henchir Esch Schorr OR Henchir es Souar | Tunisia | [
Abthugni Hennchir Kasbat es Souar: Tunisia, SOURCE: National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Bethesda, MD, USA.
] (not the circus; nucleus of the Roman town). | cited in Humphrey;[ location of place on topographic map][
Abthugni+Commodum on map: NJ 32-15 Tunis, Tunisia from Perry–Castañeda Library Map Collection Tunisia Maps Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, Joint Operations Graphic 1:250,000.
] (ref: NJ 32-15/510322); references to Henchir Souar;[
Abthugni ZAGHOUAN (search for 'A00030'), from Docartis Tunisia Patrimonio archeologico e storico Siti complessi e monumenti] | Gestion du patrimoine culturel de la Tunisie - Liste des monuments et décrets par gouvernorat (search for 'Zaghouan').
[
Abthugni Décret du 13 mars 1912 (24 rabia-el-aoual 1330), page 2 (search for 'Henchir Souar'), from
Docartis Tunisia Patrimonio archeologico e storico Decreti di protezione] | Liste Decrets (search for '14, Décret du 13 mars 1912 (24 rabia-el-aoual 1330)') > Décret du 13 mars 1912 (24 rabia-el-aoual 1330).
aerial photograph of place[
Abthugni aerial photograph from Docartis Tunisia Fonti documentarie Foto aeree ] | PHOTOS AERIENNES (search for 'Henchir Souar, A00030').
confirms coordinates reference; topographic features on aerial photograph match with;[
Abthugni Wikimapia location: Henchir Souar.
] no online circus-specific information found. | |
Carthago
Circus of Carthage | Carthage | Tunisia | | Cited in Humphrey;[
Carthago The Circus Carthage Circus at circusmaximus.us.
] length: c500m;[
Carthago Wikimapia location: Carthago Roman circus.
] width: c90m;[ U-shaped; very little remains visible; partly occupied by modern constructions.] | (may not be oriented to north)[
] |
Commodum OR Municipium Aurelium Commodum | Henchir Bou Cha or Henchir Fraxine | Tunisia | (not the circus; nucleus of the Roman town) | cited in Humphrey;[
Commodum site no. 028.113, Henchir Fraxine/Henchir Bou Cha (anc. Municipium Aurelium Commodum) (doc page: 98; PDF page: 99)(gives UTM coordinates: 358,900N; 498,350E = approx: 36 deg 32' N, 9 deg 53' E) from Institut National du Patrimoine Tunisie Archaeological Map] | Carte National des Sites Arqueologiques e des Monuments Historiques Bir Mcherga 028 > Cahier BIR MCHERGA 028.
; location of place on topographic map[ (ref: NJ 32-15/498358); no online circus-specific information found.] | |
| Hadrumetum OR Colonia Concordia Ulpia Trajana Augusta Frugifera Hadrumetina | Sousse | Tunisia | (probable location) | cited in Humphrey;[
Hadrumetum Wikimapia location: Sousse Roman circus (probable location).
] based on information in 1903 documents[
Hadrumetum Sousse Archaeological Bulletin (especially PDF pages: 16, 17, 19, 204, 239, 410) "SOCIÉTÉ ARCHÉOLOGIQUE DE SOUSSE, Assemblée générale du 29 Février 1903, Extraits des procès-verbaux des réunions." etc., from Institut National du Patrimoine Tunisie / National Heritage Institute (INP) Digital Library Sousse Archaeological Bulletin (near bottom of page).
] , reinforced by an undated aerial photograph;[
Hadrumetum aerial photograph of Sousse from DocArtis Progetti TUNISIA: Projet de gestion du patrimoine culturel Fonti documentarie Foto aeree] | PHOTOS AERIENNES Sousse ville. A00219.
visible length (as measured on Wikimapia based on cross-reference with aerial photograph): c350m or greater. | |
Thugga OR Municipium Septimium Aurelium Liberum Thugga[
Thugga Dougga#Dougga's "liberty".
] | Dougga | Tunisia | (approximate location) | cited in Chase;[
Thugga Wikimapia location: Thugga Roman circus (approximate location).
] on the north western edge of town, suggested (though not explicitly identified) on plan,[
Thugga Délimitation du site culturel de Dougga. A3. Scale by calculation ~ 1: 6,250. Shows boundaries and buffer zone of the World Heritage property from UNESCO – Culture – World Heritage Centre – The List – World Heritage List – Dougga / Thugga – Maps.
] and plan;[
Thugga THE GERMAN-TUNISIAN PROJECT AT DOUGGA FIRST RESULTS OF THE EXCAVATIONS SOUTH OF THE MAISON DU TRIFOLIUM (page 47).
] various lengths are referenced: c175m,[
Thugga PlanetWare.com > Africa and the Middle East > Tunisia > Tunisia Tourist Attractions > Dougga Tourist Attractions Circus.
] 393m;[
Thugga Dougga#Circus.
] the site is open agricultural land with no subsequent occupation. | (may not be oriented to north)[
Thugga The Circus Dougga at circusmaximus.us.
]
|
| Thysdrus | El Djem | Tunisia | | cited in Humphrey;[
Thysdrus Wikimapia location: Thysdrus Roman circus.
] visible track width: c70m;[ form lightly visible; U-shaped; the space is unoccupied by any modern structures; little of the structure is still visible.] | (may not be oriented to north)[
Thysdrus The Circus El Djem at circusmaximus.us.
]
|
| Utica | near Zana | Tunisia | (probable location) | cited in Humphrey;[
Utica Cahier Ghar el Melh (NO-SO) from Institut National du Patrimoine Tunisie Archaeological Map] | Carte National des Sites Arqueologiques e des Monuments Historiques 007 Ghar el Melh.
reference to circus;[
Utica Utica, Tunisia at British School at Rome – Accademia Britannica di Archeologia, Storia e Belle Arti – Research – Archaeology – Geophysics – Geophysics Projects (search for 'Utica, Tunisia').
] uncorroborated location;[
Utica Wikimapia location: Utica Roman circus (uncorroborated).
] more probable location[
Utica Wikimapia location: Utica Roman circus (probable).
] as indicated by the maps in[
Utica 'Survey and Excavation at Utica 2010' by Nabil Kallala, Elizabeth Fentress, Josephine Quinn, Andrew Wilson (maps on pages 11 and 12).
] confirms the given location; approximate length measured from the maps in:[ 280-300m.] | |
Antioch
Circus of Antioch | Antakya | Turkey | | cited in Humphrey;[
Antioch The Circus Antioch at circusmaximus.us.
] map[
Antioch map Ancient City of Antioch from a past exhibition at the Cleveland Museum of Art.
] of ancient Antioch[
Antioch Wikimapia location: ancient city of Antioch.
] showing the circus as a hippodrome; length: c490m;[
Antioch Wikimapia location: Antioch Roman hippodrome.
] width: c90m;[ very little visible today; is more visible in a 1930s aerial photograph;][ lightly over-built by modern structures and occupations.] | (may not be oriented to north)[
] |
| Aphrodisias | Aphrodisias | Turkey | | Double-U-shaped; very substantially preserved; significantly smaller than other circuses; may be considered a stadium or hippodrome rather than a circus; visible track length: c220m;[
Aphrodisias Wikimapia location: Aphrodisias Roman circus/hippodrome/stadium.
] visible track width: 35m. | (may not be oriented to north)[
Aphrodisias The Circus Aphrodisia at circusmaximus.us.
]
|
Byzantium
Hippodrome of Constantinople | Istanbul | Turkey | | Built under Septimius Severus; estimated length: c450m;[
Byzantium Hippodrome of Constantinople#History and use.
] estimated width: c130m;[ other than some monuments from the spina, virtually none of the structure is visible today; it is believed much of the structure may lie buried some 2m below the current surface.][
Byzantium Hippodrome of Constantinople#The Hippodrome today.
] | (may not be oriented to north)[
Byzantium The Circus Constantinople at circusmaximus.us.
]
|
| Laodicea on the Lycus | Denizli (c6km) | Turkey | | referred to as a stadium; double U-shaped and small; visible track length: c250m;[
Laodicea Wikimapia location: Laodicea on the Lycus Roman stadium or circus.
] visible track width: c40m;[ form clearly visible; no visible spina; unoccupied by any subsequent construction.] | |
| Nicomedia | İzmit | Turkey | (not the circus; historic nucleus of İzmit) | cited in Humphrey;[
Nicomedia The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites NICOMEDIA NW Turkey at Perseus Digital Library Collections/Texts] | Perseus Collection Greek and Roman Materials (search for 'The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites').
[
Nicomedia KocaeLi - information on historical remains at Izmit (ancient Nicomedia).
] Kocaeli municipal history,[
Nicomedia Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality History of Kocaeli.
] including a 19th-century map showing the location of the historic nucleus of the city (through history Kocaeli has been named successively: Olbia, Astakos, Nicomedia, Iznikmid, and Izmid or Izmit); no online circus-specific information found. | |
| Colonia Claudia Victricensis (Camulodunum) | Colchester | UK | 51°53'1.22"N 0°53'44.42"E | |
| |
