tour 3 of 10
Chariot-racing in ancient Rome
Bronze sestertius with the Circus Maximus
This coin was struck for the emperor Trajan
(reigned AD 98-117) to commemorate his renovation of the Circus
Maximus, the greatest chariot-racing track of antiquity. Given the
restricted space, a remarkable amount of detail can be seen. It is
likely that the designer of the coin chose to depict the features
that Trajan restored.
There
are three statue groups of
quadrigae (four-horse
chariots), one above the triumphal arch at the curved end around
which the chariots raced, and two at each corner of the straight
end, where the race started and finished. The central barrier
dividing the race track, the
spina, is also lavishly
decorated with an obelisk and turning posts at either end. Between
the posts is an equestrian statue and even a tiny shrine. On the
far wall of the circus is another shrine, with a rayed-sun device,
dedicated to the sun-god Sol.