CHAP. XI.The great shew-place called Circus Maximus.
TArquinius Priscus instituted first this large circuit for running of races, and laid the foundation thereof betweene the two mounts Aventine and Palatine. But Caesar was hee that enlarged it, and made it more magnificent and stately. For being (as it was) three furlongs and an halfe in length, and foure acres broad; it is thought that it was Caesar and not Tarquine, who set it out to that largenesse: and this soundeth like to a truth, considering that in Tarquines daies the citie was not so populous, neither given so much to these shewes and sights, as in the time of Caesar, and therefore the place required not so great a compasse of ground. Now this Cirque for three parts thereof, to wit, the two sides and one of the ends, had a ditch digged ten foot deepe, and as many broad: behind that ditch were galleries built, three stories high; & these had seats made beneath with stone, and above of timber: al which galleries had one and the same bases, for they closed together round like a globe. A∣ble they were to receive a hundred and fiftie thousand men. See more hereof in Dionysius, Plinie, Livie, and others who have written of the Romane edifices. This Cirque, Augustus adorned and beautified afterwards: for hee made the barriers of marble, and guilded the goales, and many other ornaments hee set it out withall. Lastly, when it was decaied and fallen down, Trajane reedified it, made it more ample, and trimmed it up. Yea, and after him, Heliogabalus set thereto besides most faire and good∣ly Columnes, and garnished them with gold, and paved the very floore with Chrysocolla. But as tou∣ching the beautie of this Cirque, Nazarius writeth much. For, by report, so elegant it was, that men re∣sorted to it, not so much to behold the exercises and maistries there, as the pleasant and defectable beautie of the place. Maximus therefore it was called, either because consecrated it was to Vortumnus the greatest of the gods, or for the excellencie and sumptuousnesse of the games: or else because in comparison of other Cirques, to wit, Flaminius, and the other called Intimus, i. the inmost, this was the biggest. For Plinie hath left in writing, that it lay out in length three furlongs, and one in breadth, so as it would well serve for two hundred and sixtie thousand men to sit within it.