A contribution to the debate on the formation of the circus factions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.20868/mhd.2025.30.5511Keywords:
Roman circus, factions, colors, tabella defixionisAbstract
This paper examines the origins and development of the Roman circus factions, associations identified by the colors red, white, green, and blue. Against the traditional view that the fourfold division emerged gradually during the High Empire, it argues that this structure was already established in the Republican period. The argument is grounded in literary and epigraphic evidence, with particular attention to provincial testimonies such as the tabella defixionis from Écija, which illustrates the early diffusion of factions beyond Rome. By questioning the validity of a late chronology, the study highlights that the colors were not merely decorative, but early markers of rivalry and affiliation. It thus contributes to clarifying the origins of the fourfold factional system and reassessing its symbolic significance within
Roman society.
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