differed little, except in size and magnificence of embellishment. The numbers which the Circus Maximus was capable of containing are computed at 150,000 by Dionysius, 260,000 by Pliny, and 385,000 by P. Victor, all of which are probably correct, but have reference to different periods of its history. Its length, in the time of Julius Caesar, was three stadia, the width one, and the depth of the buildings occupied half a stadium. When the Circus Maximus was permanently formed by Tarquinius Priscus, each of the thirty curiae had a particular place assigned to it; but as no provision was made for the plebeians in this circus, it is supposed that the Circus Flaminius was designed for the games of the commonalty, who in early times chose their tribunes there, on the Flaminian field. However, in the latter days of the republic, these invidious distinctions were lost, and all classes sat promiscuously in the circus. The seats were then marked off at intervals by a line or groove drawn across them (_linea_), so that the space included between two lines afforded sitting room for a certain number of spectators. Under the empire, however, the senators and equites were separated from the common people. The seat of the emperor (_pulvinar or cubiculum_) was most likely in the same situation in the Circus Maximus as in the one above described.--The Circensian games (_Ludi Circenses_) were first instituted by Romulus, according to the legends, when he wished to attract the Sabine population to Rome, for the purpose of furnishing his own people with wives, and were celebrated in honour of the god Consus, or Neptunus Equestris, from whom they were styled _Consuales_. But after the construction of the Circus Maximus they were called indiscriminately _Circenses_, _Romani_, or _Magni_. They embraced six kinds of games:--I. CURSUS; II. LUDUS TROJAE; III. PUGNA EQUESTRIS; IV. CERTAMEN GYMNICUM; V. VENATIO; VI. NAUMACHIA. The two last were not peculiar to the circus, but were exhibited also in the amphitheatre, or in buildings appropriated for them. The games commenced with a grand procession (_Pompa Circensis_), in which all those who were about to exhibit in the circus, as well as persons of distinction, bore a part. The statues of the gods formed the most conspicuous feature in the show, which were paraded upon wooden platforms, called _fercula_ and _thensae_. The former were borne upon the shoulders, as the statues of saints are carried in modern processions; the latter were drawn along upon wheels.--I. CURSUS, the races. The carriage usually employed in the circus was drawn by two or four horses (_bigae_, _quadrigae_). [CURRUS.] The usual number of chariots which started for each race was four. The drivers (_aurigae_, _agitatores_) were also divided into four companies, each distinguished by a different colour, to represent the four seasons of the year, and called a _factio_: thus _factio prasina_, the green,