ina_ between the _metae_, and to have built
a new _pulvinar_, or imperial box; but if this is taken in connexion
with the fact that the circus had been partially destroyed by fire in 31
B.C., it may be supposed that besides this he had restored it
altogether. Only the lower tiers of seats were of stone, the others
being of wood, and this, from the liability to fire, may account for the
frequent restorations to which the circus was subject; it would also
explain the falling of the seats by which a crowd of people were killed
in the time of Antoninus Pius. In the reign of Claudius, apparently
after a fire, the _carceres_ of stone (tufa) were replaced by marble,
and the _metae_ of wood by gilt bronze. Under Domitian, again, after a
fire, the circus was rebuilt and the carceres increased to 12 instead of
8 as before. The work was finished by Trajan. See further for seating
capacity, &c., ROME: _Archaeology_, Sec. "Places of Amusement."

The circus was the only public spectacle at which men and women were not
separated. The lower seats were reserved for persons of rank; there were
also various state boxes, e.g. for the giver of the games and his
friends (called _cubicula_ or _suggestus_). The principal object of
attraction apart from the racing must have been the _spina_ or low wall
which ran down the middle of the course, with its obelisks, images and
ornamental shrines. On it also were seven figures of dolphins and seven
oval objects, one of which was taken down at every round made in a race,
so that spectators might see readily how the contest proceeded. The
chariot race consisted of seven rounds of the course. The chariots
started abreast, but in an oblique line, so that the outer chariot might
be compensated for the wider circle it had to make at the other end.
Such a race was called a _missus_, and as many as 24 of these would take
place in a day. The competitors wore different colours, originally white
and red (_albata_ and _russata_), to which green (_prasina_) and blue
(_veneta_) were added. Domitian introduced two more colours, gold and
purple (_purpureus et auratus pannus_), which probably fell into disuse
after his death. To provide the horses and large staff of attendants it
was necessary to apply to rich capitalists and owners of studs, and from
this there grew up in time four select companies (_factiones_) of circus
purveyors, which were identified with the four colours, and with which
those who organized the r