Trigarium
Encyclopedia
The Trigarium was an equestrian training ground in the northwest corner of the Campus Martius
("Field of Mars") in ancient Rome
. It was an open space located south of the bend of the Tiber River, near the present-day Via Giulia
.
To preserve its flexibility of purpose, the Trigarium had no permanent structures; it was used for chariot
training and all forms of equestrian exercise. The faction headquarters of the professional charioteers were established nearby, with the Trigarium just northwest of the stables and clubhouse of the Green and Blue teams. An adjacent area where people played ball
and hoop games
and wrestled
was the site of temporary wooden stadia built by Julius Caesar
and Augustus
and finally the permanent Stadium of Domitian
.
The earliest reference to the Trigarium dates to the time of Claudius
, and the latest to the second half of the 4th century. Although its primary use was as a training ground, the Trigarium is sometimes thought to have been the venue for the chariot races that preceded the October Horse ritual, performed in the Campus Martius in honor of Mars on October 15. The races of the Equirria
on February 27 and March 14, also celebrated for Mars, may have been held at the Trigarium as well, and possibly events for the Saecular Games, which originated near the site. The Trigarium may be part of a larger field set aside as a public space for horse pasturage and military drill for youths, which was the original purpose of the Campus Martius.
The name Trigarium derives from triga, a three-horse chariot; compare the more common quadriga
and biga
, the four- and two-horse chariot. The Romans only rarely raced with a team of three. Isidore of Seville
comments on the sacral origin of chariot races as part of the public games (ludi
), which were held in conjunction with certain religious festivals
. The quadriga, Isidore says, represents the sun, and the biga the moon; the triga is for the infernal gods, with the three horses representing the three ages of human beings, childhood, youth, and old age. An underground altar to the underworld deities Dis Pater
and Proserpina
was located in the vicinity of the Trigarium.
Trigarium became a generic word for an equestrian training ground, as evidenced by inscriptions
. For instance, a charioteer in Roman Africa who died during a race was buried in the nearby trigarium. Pliny
uses the word to mean equestrian exercise generally: he describes a fortified water or sports drink
, prepared with powdered goat dung and vinegar, that was drunk by Nero
"when he wanted to strengthen himself for the trigarium."
Campus Martius
The Campus Martius , was a publicly owned area of ancient Rome about in extent. In the Middle Ages, it was the most populous area of Rome...
("Field of Mars") in ancient Rome
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
. It was an open space located south of the bend of the Tiber River, near the present-day Via Giulia
Via Giulia
Via Giulia is a street in the historic centre of Rome, Italy, mostly in rione Regola, although its northern part belongs to rione Ponte. It was one of the first important urban planning projects in Renaissance Rome....
.
To preserve its flexibility of purpose, the Trigarium had no permanent structures; it was used for chariot
Chariot racing
Chariot racing was one of the most popular ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine sports. Chariot racing was often dangerous to both driver and horse as they frequently suffered serious injury and even death, but generated strong spectator enthusiasm...
training and all forms of equestrian exercise. The faction headquarters of the professional charioteers were established nearby, with the Trigarium just northwest of the stables and clubhouse of the Green and Blue teams. An adjacent area where people played ball
Harpastum
Harpastum, also known as Harpustum, was a form of ball game played in the Roman Empire. The Romans also referred to it as the small ball game. The ball used was small and hard, probably about the size and solidity of a softball...
and hoop games
Hoop rolling
Hoop rolling, also called hoop trundling, is both a sport and a child's game in which a large hoop is rolled along the ground, generally by means of an implement wielded by the player. The aim of the game is to keep the hoop upright for long periods of time or to do various tricks.Hoop rolling has...
and wrestled
Greek wrestling
Greek wrestling, also known as Ancient Greek wrestling and Pále , was the most popular organized sport in Ancient Greece. A point was scored when one player touched the ground with his back,hip,shoulder,or tapped out due to a submission-hold or was forced out of the wrestling-area...
was the site of temporary wooden stadia built by Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
and Augustus
Augustus
Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...
and finally the permanent Stadium of Domitian
Stadium of Domitian
The Stadium of Domitian , also known as the Circus Agonalis, was located to the north of the Campus Martius in Rome, Italy. The Stadium was commissioned around 80 AD by the Emperor Titus Flavius Domitianus as a gift to the people of Rome, and was used mostly for athletic contests.- Construction and...
.
The earliest reference to the Trigarium dates to the time of Claudius
Claudius
Claudius , was Roman Emperor from 41 to 54. A member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, he was the son of Drusus and Antonia Minor. He was born at Lugdunum in Gaul and was the first Roman Emperor to be born outside Italy...
, and the latest to the second half of the 4th century. Although its primary use was as a training ground, the Trigarium is sometimes thought to have been the venue for the chariot races that preceded the October Horse ritual, performed in the Campus Martius in honor of Mars on October 15. The races of the Equirria
Equirria
The Equirria were holy days with religious and military significance at either end of the new year celebrations for Mars. The Roman state placed great emphasis on celebrating the god of war - to support the army, and to boost public morale. Priests performed rites purifying the army...
on February 27 and March 14, also celebrated for Mars, may have been held at the Trigarium as well, and possibly events for the Saecular Games, which originated near the site. The Trigarium may be part of a larger field set aside as a public space for horse pasturage and military drill for youths, which was the original purpose of the Campus Martius.
The name Trigarium derives from triga, a three-horse chariot; compare the more common quadriga
Quadriga
A quadriga is a car or chariot drawn by four horses abreast . It was raced in the Ancient Olympic Games and other contests. It is represented in profile as the chariot of gods and heroes on Greek vases and in bas-relief. The quadriga was adopted in ancient Roman chariot racing...
and biga
Biga (chariot)
The biga is the two-horse chariot as used in ancient Rome for sport, transportation, and ceremonies. Other animals may replace horses in art and occasionally for actual ceremonies. The term biga is also used by modern scholars for the similar chariots of other Indo-European cultures, particularly...
, the four- and two-horse chariot. The Romans only rarely raced with a team of three. Isidore of Seville
Isidore of Seville
Saint Isidore of Seville served as Archbishop of Seville for more than three decades and is considered, as the historian Montalembert put it in an oft-quoted phrase, "le dernier savant du monde ancien"...
comments on the sacral origin of chariot races as part of the public games (ludi
Ludi
Ludi were public games held for the benefit and entertainment of the Roman people . Ludi were held in conjunction with, or sometimes as the major feature of, Roman religious festivals, and were also presented as part of the cult of state.The earliest ludi were horse races in the circus...
), which were held in conjunction with certain religious festivals
Roman festivals
In ancient Roman religion, holidays were celebrated to worship and celebrate a certain god or divine event, and consisted of religious observances and festival traditions, usually with a large feast, and often featuring games . The most important festivals were the Saturnalia, the Consualia, the...
. The quadriga, Isidore says, represents the sun, and the biga the moon; the triga is for the infernal gods, with the three horses representing the three ages of human beings, childhood, youth, and old age. An underground altar to the underworld deities Dis Pater
Dis Pater
Dis Pater, or Dispater was a Roman god of the underworld, later subsumed by Pluto or Hades. Originally a chthonic god of riches, fertile agricultural land, and underground mineral wealth, he was later commonly equated with the Roman deities Pluto and Orcus, becoming an underworld deity.Dis Pater...
and Proserpina
Proserpina
Proserpina or Proserpine is an ancient Roman goddess whose story is the basis of a myth of Springtime. Her Greek goddess' equivalent is Persephone. The probable origin of her name comes from the Latin, "proserpere" or "to emerge," in respect to the growing of grain...
was located in the vicinity of the Trigarium.
Trigarium became a generic word for an equestrian training ground, as evidenced by inscriptions
Epigraphy
Epigraphy Epigraphy Epigraphy (from the , literally "on-writing", is the study of inscriptions or epigraphs as writing; that is, the science of identifying the graphemes and of classifying their use as to cultural context and date, elucidating their meaning and assessing what conclusions can be...
. For instance, a charioteer in Roman Africa who died during a race was buried in the nearby trigarium. Pliny
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus , better known as Pliny the Elder, was a Roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and personal friend of the emperor Vespasian...
uses the word to mean equestrian exercise generally: he describes a fortified water or sports drink
Sports drink
A sports drink beverage is designed to help athletes rehydrate when fluids are depleted after training or competition. Electrolyte replacement promotes proper rehydration, which is important in delaying the onset of fatigue during exercise...
, prepared with powdered goat dung and vinegar, that was drunk by Nero
Nero
Nero , was Roman Emperor from 54 to 68, and the last in the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Nero was adopted by his great-uncle Claudius to become his heir and successor, and succeeded to the throne in 54 following Claudius' death....
"when he wanted to strengthen himself for the trigarium."