Up to 200,000 spectators pack into Rome's Circus Maximus for a day of thrills in the Empire's greatest sports stadium. Before the chariot races begin the crowd watch a flamboyant parade (pompa circensis) of the day's sportsmen and entertainers. (Reconstruction by Faber Courtial)

The races are underway! Romans could be fanatical in their support for either the Blue, Green, Red or White racing teams or 'factions'; racers of each colour seen here approaching the three golden 'metae' turning posts - the most dangerous part of the course! (Faber Courtial)

The body of one unfortunate racer awaits recovery from the sand. Visible are some of the monuments on the much-ornamented central spina, that included shrines, fountains, columns, a tall judge's pavilion, a large water clock (clepsydra) and obelisks. (Faber Courtial)

A privileged view of the chariot races from the podium of the Temple of the Sun and Moon, built into the stands of the Circus Maximus. On the spina can be seen the obelisk brought from Egypt to Rome by Augustus in 10 BC, which now stands in the Piazza del Popolo! (Faber Courtial)

If the Emperor tired of the noise and heat of the circus he and his family could retire to the imperial palace on the Palatine Hill, where they could still see the action from the arcaded gallery of the Domus Augustana's great exedra, high above the stadium. (Faber Courtial) END