Roman Circus

The Roman Circus (or hippodrome) lies to the southeast of the city of Carthage. Built by the Lepcitanians, the circus measures about 100 x 450 m and was used for chariot racing over an area of around l km that once seated 70,000. It occupies a flat area along the beach, near the Roman Amphitheater. It once enclosed eleven rows of rock-cut seats that allowed almost 20,000 people to watch the games being played. Five water basins with fountains were added to the circus for purposes of decoration. The hippodrom was used later as a cemetery. Today, the construction only remains in outline and most of it is completely buried except for small bits and pieces that can still be discerned.