Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 5.djvu/806

wore different colours, originally white and red (albata and russata) ; afterwards the colours green (prasina) and blue (veneta) were added, and further, under Domitian, gold and purple, but these last two were not long retained. To pro vide the horses and large staff of attendants, it was necessary to apply to rich capitalists and owners of studs, and from this there grew up in time four select companies (factiones) of circus purveyors which were identified with the four colours, and with which those who organized the races had to contract for the proper supply of horses and men. The drivers, who were mostly slaves, were sometimes held in high repute for their skill. The horses most valued were those of Sicily, Spain, and Cappadocia. Chariots with two horses (bigce) or four (quadrigae) were most common, but sometimes also they had three (trigce) and exceptionally more than four horses. Occasionally there was combined with the chariots a race of riders (desultores), each rider having two horses and Isaping from one to the other during the race. At certain of the races the proceedings were opened by a pompa or procession in which images of the gods and of the imperial family deified were conveyed in cars drawn by horses, mules, or elephants, attended by the colleges of priests, and led by the presiding magistrate seated in a chariot in the dress and with the insignia of a triumphator. The procession passed from the capitol along the forum, and on to the circus, where it was received by the people standing and clapping their hands. The pre siding magistrate gave the signal for the races by throwing a white flag (mappa) on to the course. Next in importance to the Circus Maximus in Rome was the Circus Flaminius, erected 221 B.C., in the censorship of C. Flaminius, from whom it may have taken its name ; or the name may have been derived from Prata Flamiuia, where it was situated, and where also were held plebeian meetings. The only games that are positively known to have been celebrated in this circus were the Ludi Taurii and Plebeii. There is no mention of it after the 1st century. Its ruins were identified in the 16th century at S. Cateriua de Funari and the Palazzo Mattel. A third circus in Rome was erected by Caligula in the gardens of Agrippina, and was known as the Circus Neronis, from the notoriety which it obtained through the Circensian pleasures of Nero. A fourth was constructed by Maxentius outside the Porta Appia near the tomb of Cecilia Metella, where its ruins are still, and now atford the only instance from which an idea of the ancient circi in Rome can be obtained. It was traced to Caracalla, till the discovery of an inscription showed it to be the work of Maxentius. Old topographers speak of six circi, but two of these appear to be imaginary, the Circus Florae and the Circus Salustii. There remain then the four described above, C. Maximus, Flaminius, Neronis, and

Maxentii.

Circus races were held in connection with the following public festivals, and generally on the last clay of the festival if it extended over more than one day : (1) The Consualia, August 21, December 15; (2) Uquivia, February 27, March 14; (3) Ludi Romani, September 4-19; (4) Ludi Ple beii, November 4-17; (5) Cerealia, April 12-19; (6) Ludi Apollinares, July 13; (7) Ludi Megalenses, April 4-10 ; (8) Floralia, April 28-May 3.

(a. s. m.)

CIRENCESTER, or Cicester, a parliamentary borough and market-town of England, in the county of Gloucester, 16 miles south-east of the town of that name, and 88 miles by road and 95 by the Great Western Railway from London. It returns one member to Parliament, and is a polling-place for East Gloucestershire. Not being incor porated, it is governed by two high constables and 14 wardsmen, elected annually. Cirencester was created a separate hundred by a charter granted in the reign of Henry IV. The town, which is situated on the River Churn, and is in connection with a branch of the Thames and Severn Canal, has four principal streets, and contains a free grammar-school, alms-houses, a savings bank, a museum, a public lib rary, breweries, and a carpet factory. The church is a fine structure of the 15th century, with an embattled tower 134 feet high, a fine decorated porch, and several lateral chapels. The Royal Agricultural College, which adjoins Oakley Park, the seat of Lord Bathurst, is about a mile and a half fromthetown. Itis a handsome edifice, with a frontage of 190 feet, facing North Wiltshire. Its buildings include a chapel, a dining hall, a library, a lecture theatre, laboratories, class-rooms, private studies and dormitories for the students, apartments for resident professors, and servants offices ; also a museum containing a collection of anatomical and pathological preparations, and mineralogical, botanical, and geological specimens. The college farm comprises 500 acres, 450 of which are arable ; and on it ars the well-appointed farm -buildings and the veterinary hospital. Besides agriculture, the course of instruction at the college includes chemistry, natural and mechanical philosophy, natural history, mensuration, surveying, and drawing, and other subjects of practical importance to the farmer, proficiency in which is tested by means of sessional examinations. Thsre is some manufac ture of carpets, woollen cloths, and curriers knives, but the industries of Cirencester are chiefly agricultural. It has now a chamber for the promotion of agriculture, and the market is accounted one of the best for live-stock in the west of England. In 1871 the population of the borough, which, including the parish of Stratton, has an area of 5985 acres, amounted to 7G81; thab of the parish was 7079.

Arms of Cirencester.

Cirencester occupies the site of Corinum, Corinium, or Duro- cornovium, the capital of the Dobuni, and an important military station of the Romans, situated at the junction of the Fosse-way with the Ermin and Icknield streets. In 577 it was taken by Ceawlin, king of Wessex, and in 878 by the Danes ; and it was the seat of a council held by Canute about the year 1020. An abbey for Black Canons, relics of which still exist, was founded here by Henry I. in 1117. The town was garrisoned for the Parliament at the commencement of the Civil "War, and was taken by Rupert in 1642 ; but in 1643 it was finally surrendered to Cromwell s forces. Numerous Roman antiquities have from time to time been discovered at Cirencester, and remains of the ancient walls, two miles in cir cuit, and of a Roman ampitheatre are still to be seen there. (See All the Year Round, No. 494, Oct. 10, 1868.

CIRILLO, Domenico (1734-1799), physician and

patriot, was born at Grugno in the kingdom of Naples. Elected while yet a young man to the botanical chair left vacant by the death of Pedillo, Cirillo went some years afterwards to England, where he was made member of the Royal Society, arid to France, where he became the friend of Buffon, Diderot, D Alembert, and others of like mark. On his return to Naples he was appointed successively to the chairs of practical and theoretical medicine. He wrote voluminously and well on scientific subjects; and he secured an extensive medical practice. The entry into Naples of the French under Championnet, and the proclamation of the Parthenopeian Republic (1799), brought to a conclusion his life of laborious and thoughtful benevolence. Cirillo was chosen a representative of the people ; he then became a member of the Legislative Commission, and was elected its president. On the abandonment by the French of the young republic (June 1799), cardinal-general Ruffoand the army of Ferdinand of Bourbon returned to Naples, and the republicans withdrew, ill-armed and inadequately pro visioned, to the forts. After a short siege, in which an English squadron under Captain Foote bore a prominent

part, they surrendered, on honourable terms. Life and.