Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Spina

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

SPI'NA. The barrier of a race-course (Cassiodor. Var. Ep. iii. 51. Schol. Vet. ad Juv. Sat. vi. 588.); a long low wall extending lengthwise down the centre of the circus for about two-thirds of its length, and which received the present name from the similarity of its position to the spine or dorsal bone in animals. The object of it was to determine the length of the course, and hinder the chariots from coming into collision front to front, as they had to run seven times round it at each race. The goals (metae), round which they turned, were situated at a small distance from each of its ends; and the whole length of the wall was decorated with various objects on its top; an obelisk in the centre, an altar, and columns on which the eggs (ova curriculorum) and dolphins (delphinorum columnae), intended to announce to the spectators the number of courses ran, were put up. The whole of these objects are exhibited in the illustration (Spina/1.1) from an engraved gem, which represents an elevation of the spina, with one side of the course and the racing chariots in it. The position it occupied in the general building, and relative length in regard to it, will be seen by referring to the ground-plan of the circus of Caracalla (p. 165), on which it is marked B.

• 
  Spina/1.1