Ludi circensis on the play board: on counters and play boards of a Roman circus game

Abstract

Counters from the Western provinces characterised either by names or depictions of horses or charioteers as racing horses or quadrigas, belonged to a circus game the rules of which at first was unknown. Only in association with play boards from North Africa showing the plan of a race course, a circus game can be reconstructed. It is striking that evidence for this game comes almost exclusively from towns for which the existence of a circus is established or at least suggested. Furthermore, names on the counters can apparently be related to famous racing horses and charioteers.