Roman circus of Mérida

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Roman circus of Mérida

Circo Romano de Mérida

View from the roof of the adjacent museum

Location| Mérida (Badajoz), Spain
Coordinates| 38°54′58″N 6°20′16″W﻿ / ﻿38.91611°N 6.33778°W﻿ / 38.91611; -6.33778
Type| Roman circus

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Official name| The Roman Circus
Type| Cultural
Criteria| iii, iv
Designated| 1993 (17th session)
Part of| Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida
Reference no.| 664-010
Region| Europe and North America
Area| 5.9935 ha (14.810 acres)
Buffer zone| 20.87 ha (51.6 acres)

Spanish Cultural Heritage

Official name| Circo Romano
Type| Non-movable
Criteria| Monument
Designated| 13 December 1912
Reference no.| RI-51-0000109

The Roman circus of Mérida (Spanish: Circo romano) is a ruined Roman circus in Mérida, Spain. Used for chariot racing, it was modelled on the Circus Maximus in Rome and other circus buildings throughout the Empire. Measuring more than 400 m in length and 30 m of width, it is one of the best preserved examples of Roman circus. It could house up to 30,000 spectators.

## History[edit]

There is no consensus about the circus' dating, as it was built and used for several years before its official dedication. It seems to have been built sometime around 20 BC and inaugurated some 30 years later. It was located far outside the city walls, but close to the road that connected the city to Toledo and Córdoba.

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the rise of Christianity in Spain, the circus saw more use than the other Roman structures of Mérida, since racing was considered less sinful than spectacles performed in the Theatre and the Amphitheatre.[1]

## Modern status[edit]

Mérida's circus remains very well preserved. As is true with the Circus Maximus, most circuses's structures have been destroyed over time as the area occupied by them was great and often in very flat land near their respective cities.[clarification needed] The Mérida circus however has kept numerous structures, including the Porta Pompae ("main entrance"), the Porta Triumphalis[dubious - discuss][2] ("triumph gate"), the spina (the longitudinal wall), the tribunal iudicium ("tribune of the judges").

A museum dedicated to the circus now sits near the middle edge of the circus grounds and it allows admittance into the fenced area around the circus remains.

## See also[edit]

* Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida
* Hippodrome – a Greek arena also used for chariot racing

## References[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ancient Roman circus of Mérida.

1. ^ "Roman Circus of Merida". Spanisharts.com. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
2. ^ Mihailuk, Andre, Porta triumphalis, in "Mapping the Roman Triumphal procession", 2013 [1] accessed 2022-11-17

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Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida

UNESCO World Heritage Site

* 664-001: Los Milagros Aqueduct
* 664-002: San Lázaro Aqueduct
* 664-003: Alcantarilla Bridge
* 664-004: Guadiana River Dam, Roman Bridge over Guadiana River, Alcazaba
* 664-005: Roman Theatre, Amphitheatre, the Amphitheatre House
* 664-006: Trajan's Arch, Concordia Temple
* 664-007: Sta. Catalina Basilica
* 664-008: Casa Herrera Basilica
* 664-009: Sta. Eulalia Basilica: Interpretation Centre, Temple of Mars
* 664-010: The Roman Circus
* 664-011: The Mithraeum House - The Columbaria Funerary Area
* 664-012: Church of Sta. Clara and Visigothic Art Collection
* 664-013: Cornalvo Dam
* 664-014: Proserpina Dam
* 664-015: Local Forum
* 664-016: Roman Wall and Albarrana Islamic Tower
* 664-017: National Museum of Roman Art
* 664-018: Sta. Eulalia Obelisk
* 664-019: Roman Bridge over Albarregas River
* 664-020: Temple of Diana
* 664-021: Thermal Baths at Reyes Huertas St.
* 664-022: Thermal Baths at Alange

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

Geographic|

* Pleiades

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