The Diocletian Persecution and Circus Maximus

Diocletian Persecution
The Diocletian Persecution was the last and most severe persecution of Christians Emperor Diocletian and his colleagues issued a series of edicts. These edicts rescinded the legal rights of Christians and demanding they comply with traditional religious practices. Later, the edicts targeted the clergy and demanding universal sacrifice, ordering all inhabitants to sacrifice to the gods. The intensity of the prosecutions varied from across the empire. The weakest prosecutions were in Gaul and Britain. In these two places, the edict was issued there first. The strongest prosecutions were in the Eastern provinces. Persecutory laws were nullified by different emperors and at different times. The Edict of Milan, the law between Constantine and Licinius, had marked the end of the persecutions.

Circus Maximus
The Circus Maximus was the first place used for games and entertainment. The first version was made completely out of wood. These could hold about ¼ of the city’s population. This was about 250,000 people. It measured about 2,037 feet in length and 387 feet in width. It was the first largest Chariot Racing Stadium in ancient Rome. It is located in a valley between Aventine and Palatine. The chariot races were most important in the Circus Maximus. The last known chariot race was in 549 held by Totila. Other events held in the Circus Maximus were processions and gladiator combats. The Circus Maximus still entertains Romans now that it is a park for people to stay in.