What did romans do in the circusses ?

Answer 1

The plural for Circus would be Circi. The Romans did many things in the circi. It would be wrong to say they were just used for chariot racing although visibly that is what they appear to be used for and it was one of the most important uses of the circi. Roman chariot racing was akin to professional sports. There were factions of racers representing different things.

Before the Colosseum/Flavian Amphitheater was finished in 80AD(79?), there were funeral games, festivals, and public games held in the circi.

The circi were also very important to those who built them. Emperors Nero and Maxentius built circi in honor of those in Rome to gain favor amongst the people.

The circus was also a place to be seen. Several of the less "noble" emperors competed in chariot races. Domitian expanded his palace to be closer to the Circus Maximus so he could be more visible and seem more like one of the people.

I should also add the circi were not mainly used for the emperor's delights as the circi far predate the formation of the Roman Principate/Empire. Rome wasn't always an empire.

Answer 2

Gory fights! ewww... anyway the circuses were mainly for the Emporer's entertainment. In an open stadium gladiatiors fought amongst themselves, or against prisoners or slaves, Prisoners and slaves were devoured by lions and other carnivores. Though not all of it was fights and killing, chariot and horse racing, trained exotic animals, juggler, acrobats, etc. This part is kept in modern day circus.
Facts: A circus was the only public place where men & women were not seperated.
The first circus was built in the 6th Century BC.

Answer 3

Basically kill a lot of people for fun.

here's a good book on the subject. It's long but easy to read. And a wikipedia article about the author.
"The Classical World" by Robin Lane Fox.

Answer 4

Oh, the usual circus stuff. Watch clowns, jugglers, elephants walking on big balls.

Ha ha .. got ya!

The circuses were used for chariot races and gladiator fights. Chariot racing was the biggest sport in Ancient Rome - like football to us. And the gladiators who killed the most opponents and kept surviving became celebrities, like our movie stars.