The Circus Maximus (Latin for largest arena) is an ancient arena and mass entertainment venue located in Rome. Situated in the valley between the Aventine and Palatine hills the location was first utilised for public games and entertainment by the Etruscan kings of Rome. Certainly, the first games of the Ludi Romani (Roman Games) were staged on the location by Tarquinius Priscus, the first Etruscan ruler of Rome. Somewhat later, the Circus was the site of public games and festivals influenced by the Greeks in the 2nd cen ...

Read more here: » Circus Maximus: Encyclopedia - Circus Maximus

Read more here: » Aventine Hill: Encyclopedia - Aventine Hill

Life in the ancient Roman cities revolved round the Forum, the central business district, where most of the Romans would go for marketing and shopping, trading and banking, and for participating in festivities and ceremonies. The Forum was also a place where orators would express themselves to mould public opinion, and elicit support for any particular issue of interest to him or others. Before sunrise, children would go to schools or tutoring them at home would commence. Elders would dress, take a breakfast by 11 o'clock, have a siesta and ...

See also:

Culture of ancient Rome, Culture of ancient Rome - Historical and cultural context, Culture of ancient Rome - Social structure, Culture of ancient Rome - Customs and daily life, Culture of ancient Rome - Clothing, Culture of ancient Rome - Dining, Culture of ancient Rome - Education, Culture of ancient Rome - Language, Culture of ancient Rome - The arts, Culture of ancient Rome - Literature, Culture of ancient Rome - Visual art, Culture of ancient Rome - Music, Culture of ancient Rome - Architecture, Culture of ancient Rome - Sports and entertainment, Culture of ancient Rome - Religion

Read more here: » Culture of ancient Rome: Encyclopedia II - Culture of ancient Rome - Customs and daily life

Cerealia was a 7-day holiday celebrated in ancient Rome in honor of the goddess Ceres. The exact dates of the April festival are uncertain: it may have started on April 12 and ended on April 19 (Or it may have started on the Ides of April, i.e. April 13, or even on April 7.) In Rome, this was the primary festival of Ceres and was accompanied by the Ludi Ceriales or "Games of Ceres" in the Circus Maximus. Ovid's description (Fasti iv.494) mentions that Ceres/Demeter's search for her lost daughter Proserpina was represented by women clothe ...

Including:

Cerealia - External link

Read more here: » Cerealia: Encyclopedia - Cerealia

Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ is a novel by General Lew Wallace which was published on November 12, 1880, by Harper and Brothers. Wallace's work is part of an important sub-genre of historical fiction set among the characters of the New Testament. The novel was a phenomenal best-seller; it soon surpassed Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852) as the best-selling American novel and retained this distinction until the 1936 publication of Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind. In 1912, Sears Roebuck published one million copies to sell for 39 cents apiece: the l ...

Including:

Ben-Hur book - Plot
Ben-Hur book - Summary Ben-Hur book - Part One Ben-Hur book - Part Two Ben-Hur book - Part Three
Ben-Hur book - Part Four

Read more here: » Ben-Hur book: Encyclopedia - Ben-Hur book

Chariot racing was one of the most popular ancient Greek and Roman sports. Chariot racing - Early chariot racing. It is unknown exactly where chariotracing began, but it may have been as old as chariots themselves. It is known from artistic evidence on pottery that the sport existed in the Mycenaean world, but the first literary reference to a chariot race is the one described by Homer in Book 23 of the Iliad, at the funeral games of Patroclus. The participants in this race were Diomedes, Eumelus, Antilochu ...

Including:

Chariot racing - Early chariot racing Chariot racing - The Olympic Games Chariot racing - Roman chariot racing Chariot racing - Byzantine chariot racing Chariot racing - Sources

Read more here: » Chariot racing: Encyclopedia - Chariot racing

Ancient Roman culture evolved throughout the almost 1300-year history of that civilization. The term refers to the culture of the Roman Republic, later the Roman Empire, which, at peak, covered an area from Cumbria and Morocco to the Euphrates. Life in ancient Rome revolved around the city of Rome, located on seven hills, and its monumental structures like the Colosseum, the Forum of Trajan and the Pantheon. The city also had several theaters and gymnasiums, and many taverns, baths and brothels. Throughout the territory under t ...

Including:

Culture of ancient Rome - Historical and cultural context Culture of ancient Rome - Social structure Culture of ancient Rome - Customs and daily life
Culture of ancient Rome - Clothing Culture of ancient Rome - Dining Culture of ancient Rome - Education
Culture of ancient Rome - Language Culture of ancient Rome - The arts
Culture of ancient Rome - Literature Culture of ancient Rome - Visual art Culture of ancient Rome - Music Culture of ancient Rome - Architecture
Culture of ancient Rome - Sports and entertainment Culture of ancient Rome - Religion

Read more here: » Culture of ancient Rome: Encyclopedia - Culture of ancient Rome

The Basilica of St. John Lateran — in Italian, the Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano — is the cathedral church of Rome and the official ecclesiastical seat of the Pope. Officially named Archibasilica Sanctissimi Salvatoris (Archbasilica of the Most Holy Savior), it is the oldest and ranks first among the five major basilicas, and holds the title of ecumenical motherchurch among Catholics. An inscription on the façade, Christo Salvatore, dedicates the Lateran as Archbasilica of the Most Holy Saviour, ...

Including:

Basilica of St. John Lateran - Lateran Palace Basilica of St. John Lateran - Reconstruction Basilica of St. John Lateran - Architectural history
Basilica of St. John Lateran - Lateran cloister Basilica of St. John Lateran - Lateran baptistry
Basilica of St. John Lateran - Catholic liturgy

Read more here: » Basilica of St. John Lateran: Encyclopedia - Basilica of St. John Lateran

In Roman mythology, the god Consus was the protector of grains and (subterranean) storage bins (silos), and as such was represented by a corn seed. His altar was placed beneath the ground near the Circus Maximus in Rome. The altar was unearthed only during the Consualia, his festival which took place on August 21 (and another one at December 15). Mule or horse races were the main event of the festival because the mule and the horse were Consus' sacred animals. Horses and mules were crowned wit ...

Read more here: » Consus: Encyclopedia - Consus

The Consuales Ludi or Consualia is a festival which honors Consus, the god of counsel, and the one who protects the harvest which is in storage at the time of the festival, which took place about the middle of Sextilis (see 21 August). The harvest grains were stored in underground vaults, and the temple of Consus was also underground. This shrine was covered with earth all year and was only uncovered for this one day. Mars, as a protector of the harvest, was also honored on this day, as were the lares, the hous ...

Read more here: » Consualia: Encyclopedia - Consualia

See also the band Colosseum. The Colosseum or Coliseum, originally known as the Flavian Amphitheatre (lat. Amphitheatrum Flavium), is an amphitheatre in Rome, capable of seating 50,000 spectators, which was once used for gladiatorial combat. Construction was initiated by Emperor Vespasian and completed by his sons, Titus and Domitian, between AD 72 and AD 81. It was built at the site of Nero's enormous palace, the Domus Aurea. The Colosseum's name is derived from a colossus (a 130-foot, or 40- ...

Including:

Colosseum - Construction Colosseum - Games Colosseum - History of the name Colosseum Colosseum - Description Colosseum - Later history Colosseum - Hollywood and the Colosseum Colosseum - Flora

Read more here: » Colosseum: Encyclopedia - Colosseum

The Circus of Nero in ancient Rome is often confused with the older and larger Circus Maximus. The Circus begun by Caligula and finished by Nero was the site of the first organized, state-sponsored martyrdoms of Christians in AD 65. Two years later, Saint Peter among many less famous Christians shared their fate. The circumstances were described in detail by Tacitus in a well-known passage of the A ...

Including:

Circus of Nero - The burial place of Peter Circus of Nero - External link

Read more here: » Circus of Nero: Encyclopedia - Circus of Nero

Centuries: 4th century BC - 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC Decades: 300s BC 290s BC 280s BC 270s BC 260s BC - 250s BC - 240s BC 230s BC 220s BC 210s BC 200s BC Years: 255 BC 254 BC 253 BC 252 BC 251 BC - 250 BC - 249 BC 248 BC 247 BC 246 BC 245 BC Events Greek astronomer Eratosthenes calculates the circumference of Earth. Soghdiana is conquered by the Parthians. Bactria gains its independence from the Seleucid Empire. (approximate date) Antiochus II The ...

Read more here: » 250 BC: Encyclopedia - 250 BC

In earlier Greek mythology, the sun was personified as a deity called Hêlios (Greek for "the sun"), whom Homer equates with the sun titan Hyperion. Other sources say Helios is Hyperion's son by his sister Theia. Helios was seen driving a fiery chariot across the sky. He has two sisters, the moon goddess Selene and the dawn goddess Eos. Many think that Apollo becomes the Olympian "sun god", but this idea is mostly based on speculation and assumption. The equivalent of Helios in Roman mythology is Sol. Helios - Gre ...

Including:

Helios - Greek mythology Helios - Roman mythology Helios - Helios and Apollo Helios - Consorts/Children Helios - Epitheta

Read more here: » Helios: Encyclopedia - Helios

Jupiter Mars Quirinus Vesta Juno Fortuna Minerva Mercury Vulcan Ceres Venus Lares The Flamens Bona Dea Carmenta Camenae Dea Dia Convector Flora Lupercus Pales Pomona Egeria Ceres, in Roman mythology, equivalent to the Greek Demeter, daughter of Saturn and Rhea, wife-sister of Jupiter, mother of Proserpina by Jupiter, sister ...

Read more here: » Ceres mythology: Encyclopedia - Ceres mythology

Avalon Hill was a game company that specialized in wargames and strategic board games. It also published the occasional miniature wargaming ruleset and had a popular line of sports simulations. It is now a division of the game company Hasbro. Avalon Hill - History. The company was started in 1958 by Charles S. Roberts following the success of his wargame Tactics. With Tactics, Roberts created a new type of board game based on actual war-like scenarios and strategies. This sort of game ...

Including:

Avalon Hill - History Avalon Hill - Games Original Avalon Hill
Avalon Hill - A Avalon Hill - B Avalon Hill - C Avalon Hill - D Avalon Hill - E Avalon Hill - F Avalon Hill - G Avalon Hill - H Avalon Hill - I Avalon Hill - J Avalon Hill - K Avalon Hill - L Avalon Hill - M Avalon Hill - N Avalon Hill - O Avalon Hill - P Avalon Hill - R Avalon Hill - S Avalon Hill - T Avalon Hill - U Avalon Hill - V Avalon Hill - W Avalon Hill - Y
Avalon Hill - Games Hasbro Avalon Hill
Avalon Hill - A Avalon Hill - B Avalon Hill - C Avalon Hill - D Avalon Hill - G Avalon Hill - H Avalon Hill - M Avalon Hill - N Avalon Hill - R Avalon Hill - S Avalon Hill - V

Read more here: » Avalon Hill: Encyclopedia - Avalon Hill

The Battle of Alesia or Siege of Alesia was a conflict fought in September 52 BC around the Gallic oppidum of Alesia, a major town centre and hill fort of the Mandubii tribe, situated probably at Chaux-des-Crotenay (Jura). Earlier research located Alesia atop Mont Auxois, above modern Alise-Sainte-Reine in France, but this location does not fit Caesar's description of the battle. Alise-Sainte-Reine is still the official location of Alesia. This battle was fought by the army of the Roman Republic commanded by Julius Caesa ...

Including:

Battle of Alesia - Prelude Battle of Alesia - Siege and battle Battle of Alesia - Aftermath Battle of Alesia - Issues in historical reconstruction of the events

Read more here: » Battle of Alesia: Encyclopedia - Battle of Alesia

The Arch of Constantine is a triumphal arch in Rome, situated between the Colosseum and the Palatine Hill. It was erected to commemorate Constantine's victory over Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge on October 28, 312 AD. Dedicated in 315 AD, it is the latest of the extant triumphal arches in Rome, from which it differs by the extensive re-use of parts of earlier buildings. Arch of Constantine - General description. The arch is 21 m high, 25.7 m wide and 7.4 m deep. It has three archways, the central ...

Including:

Arch of Constantine - General description Arch of Constantine - Decoration
Arch of Constantine - Attic Arch of Constantine - Main section Arch of Constantine - Inner sides of the archways
Arch of Constantine - Inscriptions

Read more here: » Arch of Constantine: Encyclopedia - Arch of Constantine

The Arch of Titus is a triumphal arch with a single arched opening, located on the Via Sacra just to the south-east of the Forum in Rome. It was constructed shortly after the death of the emperor Titus (born AD 41, emperor 79-81). The arch commemorates Titus' capture and sack of Jerusalem in 70, which effectively terminated the Jewish War which had begun in 66 (the Romans did not achie ...

Including:

Arch of Titus - Another arch by the Circus Maximus Arch of Titus - External link

Read more here: » Arch of Titus: Encyclopedia - Arch of Titus

Chariot was the name of a WW2 naval weapon, the British manned torpedo. A chariot is a two-wheeled, horse-drawn vehicle. In Latin biga is a two-horse chariot, and quadriga is a four-horse chariot. It was used for battle during the Bronze and Iron Ages, and continued to be used for travel, processions and in games after it had been superseded militarily. Early forms may also have had four wheels, although these are not usually referred to as chariots. The critical invention that allowed the constructi ...

Including:

Chariot - Early forms Chariot - Indo-Iranians Chariot - China Chariot - Ancient Near East
Chariot - Egyptian Chariot - Hittite Chariot - Mycenaean Chariot - Chariots in the Bible Chariot - Iron Age Mesopotamia
Chariot - Northern Europe Chariot - Central and Western Europe Chariot - Classical Antiquity
Chariot - Greece Chariot - Roman Empire
Chariot - Russian Tachanka Chariot - Additional Bibliography

Read more here: » Chariot: Encyclopedia - Chariot