---
title: Circus of Maxentius, Spina
author: Carole Raddato
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/18982/circus-of-maxentius-spina/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 2024-05-27
---
# Circus of Maxentius, Spina
_Authored by Carole Raddato_
## Image File
[](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/18982.jpg)
## Image Caption
The [Circus](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Circus/) of Maxentius is the best-preserved [Roman](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Roman/) circus in [Rome](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/) and is second only in size to the [Circus Maximus](https://www.worldhistory.org/Circus_Maximus/). It lies outside the [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/), between the second and third milestones along the Appian Way (Via Appia). This circus was part of a large [palace](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/palace/) complex built by Emperor Maxentius between 306 and 312 CE. The track of the Circus of Maxentius was 503 metres (1650 ft) long and 79 metres (259 ft) wide. It had a capacity for 10,000 spectators.
The *spina*, the barrier running down the middle of the track, was exactly 1000 Roman feet (296 m / 571 ft) long and would have had many ornaments, including *metae* (cones) and obelisks. In the centre stood the Obelisk of [Domitian](https://www.worldhistory.org/domitian/), which Maxentius presumably moved from the Iseum Campense, the [Temple](https://www.worldhistory.org/temple/) of [Isis](https://www.worldhistory.org/isis/) on the Campus Martius in Rome. Pope Innocent X moved the obelisk to the Piazza Navona in Rome in 1650.
## Cite This Work
### APA
Raddato, C. (2024, May 27). Circus of Maxentius, Spina. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Raddato, Carole. "Circus of Maxentius, Spina." *World History Encyclopedia*, May 27, 2024. .
### MLA
Raddato, Carole. "Circus of Maxentius, Spina." *World History Encyclopedia*, 27 May 2024, .
## License & Copyright
[](https://www.flickr.com/photos/carolemage/52728426249/)This image was first published on [Flickr](http://www.flickr.com). [Original image](https://www.flickr.com/photos/carolemage/52728426249/) by [**Carole Raddato**](https://www.flickr.com/photos/carolemage/52728426249/). Submitted by [Carole Raddato](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/FollowingHadrian/ "User Page: Carole Raddato"), published on 27 May 2024. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.