At these games women have no special place set apart for them; they sit in their richest land showiest attire among the general body of the spectators, and flirting and love-making are part of the order of the day.  A very crude form of field-glass or “spy-glass” was already in use, apparently consisting generally of a mere hollow tube, but occasionally provided with a magnifying lens.  Nero himself, in consequence of his short-sight, had a “glass” in some way contrived of emerald.

At one end of the Circus is a building containing a curved line of stalls, equidistant from the starting-point, in which the drivers hold their chariots in readiness.  These are all barred, and only at the signal will the doors be thrown open.  The horses are commonly three-year-olds or five-year-olds.  In some races there are two horses to the chariot, in others four.  Less commonly there are three or six, or even a greater number.  In the year 64 the number of cars running will be four, one for each club.  How many races there are to be, and in what variety, will depend upon the presiding officer, who, as has been said, is paying a considerable portion of the expenses, and who will receive or lose applause according to the entertainment he affords to the spectators.  Commonly there will be about twenty races run, although occasionally even that number be increased.

Down the middle of the arena, though not quite in its axis, runs a low broad wall called the “backbone,” bearing various sculptures along its summit and in the middle an obelisk, now standing in the Piazza del Popolo, which Augustus had brought from Egypt after his conquest of that country.  On the extremities of the “backbone” are placed the figures of seven dolphins and seven large eggs, and just free of each end, on a base of their own, stand three tall cones coated with gilt, round which the chariots are to turn as a yacht turns round the buoy.  Seven times will the chariots race down the arena, round the end of the backbone, and back again.  At each lap a dolphin and an egg will be removed from the wall, and as the last disappears the winning driver makes straight on for the white line which serves as the winning-post.

[Illustration:  FIG. 84.—­PLAN OF CIRCUS.]

But they have not yet started.  At the fixed hour a procession starts from the Capitol, descends by the temple of Saturn and past the face of the Basilica Julia, turns along the “Tuscan Street,” and enters the Circus under a large archway in the middle of the building which contains the stalls.  In front go a body of musicians with blare of the straight Roman trumpet and the scream of the flageolets; behind these comes the high official who has charge of the particular festival.  He is mounted high on a chariot, and is clothed in a toga embroidered with gold and a tunic figured with golden palm-branches:  in his hand he carries an ivory sceptre, and over his head is held a crown of gold-leaf.  Behind