circus: Difference between revisions

|lshtext=<b>circus</b>: i, m., = [[κίρκος]] [kindr. [[with]] [[κρίκος]]; Dor. [[κίρκος]], and [[κορώνη]]; cf.: [[κυλινδέω]], [[κυλλός]], [[cirrus]], [[curvus]].<br /><b>I</b> A [[circular]] [[line]], [[circle]], in astronomy ([[less]] freq. [[than]] [[circulus]]): [[quot]] [[luna]] [[circos]] [[annuo]] in cursu institit, Att. ap. Non. p. 20, 28: [[circus]] [[lacteus]], the Milky Way, Macr. Somn. Scip. 1, 15, 2; cf.: [[candens]] [[circus]], Lacteus hic notatur, Cic. Arat. 248 (492): illum incolunt locum ... erat [[autem]] is splendidissimo candore [[inter]] flammas [[circus]] elucens, id. Rep. 6, 16, 16 B. and K.: [[globus]] et circi zonaeque ac fulgida signa, Mart. Cap. 6, § 583.—<br /><b>II</b> Circus Maximus, and [[more]] freq. κατ ἐξοχήν Circus, the [[oval]] [[circus]] built by [[Tarquinius]] [[Priscus]] [[between]] the Palatine and Aventine hills, [[which]] could [[contain]] [[more]] [[than]] one [[hundred]] [[thousand]] spectators. It [[was]] surrounded by galleries [[three]] stories [[high]], and a [[canal]] called [[Euripus]]. Through its [[whole]] [[length]], in the [[middle]], a [[wall]] [[four]] feet [[high]] and [[about]] [[twelve]] [[broad]] [[was]] built, called [[spina]], at the ends of [[which]] [[there]] were [[three]] columns [[upon]] one [[base]] ([[meta]]), [[around]] [[which]] the combatants were required to [[pass]] [[seven]] times [[before]] the [[prize]] [[was]] awarded. In the [[middle]] of the [[spina]], Cæsar erected the obelisk, 132 feet [[high]], brought from [[Egypt]]; cf. [[Dion]]. Hal. 3, 68; Dict. Antiq. p. 252 sqq.; Becker, Antiq. 1, p. 467 sq.—Passages [[with]] Circus Maximus, Varr. L. L. 5, § 153 Müll.; id. R. R. 3, 13, 3; Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 59, § 154; Vitr. 3, 3, 5; Liv. 1, 35, 8 sqq.; Ov. F. 2, 392; Plin. 30, 15, 24, § 102; Suet. Ner. 25; 27; Gell. 5, 14, 5 al.— Circus [[Magnus]], Ov. F. 6, 477; Plin. 36, 9, 14, § 71.—Most freq. [[only]] Circus, Enn. ap. Cic. Div. 1, 58, 132; Cic. Leg. 2, 15, 38; id. Mur. 34, 72 sq.; id. Phil. 2, 43, 110; Liv. 1, 36, 2; 42, 10, 5; Tac. H. 1, 4; Quint. 1, 6, 45; Suet. Caes. 39; id. Aug. 43; 74; id. Calig. 18 et saep.—In or [[around]] the Circus [[many]] jugglers and soothsayers, etc., stationed [[themselves]]; [[hence]], Circus [[fallax]], Hor. S. 1, 6, 113; Cic. Div. 1, 58, 132; Suet. Aug. 74: Circus [[clamosus]], Mart. 10, 53, 1; cf. Juv. 3, 65. —Besides the Circus Maximus, [[there]] were at [[Rome]] [[still]] [[other]] Circi, [[among]] [[which]] the [[most]] [[celebrated]] [[was]] the Circus [[Flaminius]] in the [[ninth]] [[region]], Varr. L. L. 5, § 154; Cic. Att. 1, 14, 1; id. Planc. 23, 55; id. Sest. 14, 33; Liv. 27, 21, 1; 28, 11, 4; Plin. 34, 3, 7, § 13; called [[only]] Circus, Ov. F. 6, 205; 6, 209; cf. Becker, Antiq. 1, p. 598; and the Circus [[Vaticanus]], begun by Caligula and [[finished]] by [[Nero]], Plin. 16, 40, 76, § 201: in Vaticani Gai et Neronis principuus [[circo]], id. 36, 11, 15, § 74.—Also, [[without]] the walls of [[Rome]], Circus [[maritimus]], Liv. 9, 42, 11.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>B</b> Hence, [[Circensis]], e, adj., pertaining to the Circus: ludi, the contesls in the Circus Maximus, also called ludi magni (Liv. 4, 27, 2; 5, 19, 6; 22, 9, 10 al.; cf. Baumg.Crus. ad Suet. Aug. 23), Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 15, § 33; Suet. Ner. 7; 11: ludicrum, the [[same]], Liv. 44, 9, 3.—Hence, [[Circensis]] [[pompa]], Suet. Claud. 11.—Also absol.: Circenses, ium, m. (sc. ludi; cf. Neue, Formenl. 1, p. 458): edere, Suet. Caes. 39; id. Calig. 18: committere, id. Claud. 21: spectare, id. Aug. 45: Circensium [[die]], id. Dom. 4: plebeii, [[prepared]] by the ediles [[annually]] in [[November]], id. Tib. 26.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>2</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Transf., [[any]] [[race]]-[[course]], Verg. A. 5, 109; 5, 289; 5, 551; Sil. 16, 313; 16, 323; Stat. Th. 6, 247.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>b</b> [[Meton]]., the spectators in the [[circus]], Sil. 16, 535.