The origins of circus-type entertainment have been a feature of many civilisations for thousands of years. Evidence of such performers have been found in manuscripts and papyri from ancient Greek and Roman times. In Greece, professional acrobats tumbled and performed beside the runners. In the Roman empire, trick riders.
Moving to the Middle ages, jugglers, mimics, dancers, puppeteers and musicians wandered through Europe performing wherever they could. The skills were passed down through families. Many of the great circus families of the past two hundred years, descended from these roving performers.
Under the reign of Elizabeth 1, minstrels and jugglers fell out of favour as they were ranked with rogues, vagabonds and beggars. However, during the eighteenth century, some of these performers started to appear in theatres and arenas.
In 1768, Philip Astley set up an arena in Lambeth in England where he performed tricks with horses. He found that it was easier to balance on a horse travelling around a circle and the optimum diameter for the circle was 12.8 metres and so the circus ring had been invented.
By early in the nineteenth century, tented circuses were appearing in Europe and America.
Signor Bertolotto was performing with fleas in London in the early nineteenth century. He wrote that fleas are able to pull some 360 times their own weight. Somewhat amazing is that Bertolotto used human fleas as they only needed feeding every few days. It was considered an honour to have his fleas feeding from one's arms!
The popularity of flea circuses has waxed and waned over the years.
Moving to the Middle ages, jugglers, mimics, dancers, puppeteers and musicians wandered through Europe performing wherever they could. The skills were passed down through families. Many of the great circus families of the past two hundred years, descended from these roving performers.
Under the reign of Elizabeth 1, minstrels and jugglers fell out of favour as they were ranked with rogues, vagabonds and beggars. However, during the eighteenth century, some of these performers started to appear in theatres and arenas.
In 1768, Philip Astley set up an arena in Lambeth in England where he performed tricks with horses. He found that it was easier to balance on a horse travelling around a circle and the optimum diameter for the circle was 12.8 metres and so the circus ring had been invented.
By early in the nineteenth century, tented circuses were appearing in Europe and America.
Signor Bertolotto was performing with fleas in London in the early nineteenth century. He wrote that fleas are able to pull some 360 times their own weight. Somewhat amazing is that Bertolotto used human fleas as they only needed feeding every few days. It was considered an honour to have his fleas feeding from one's arms!
The popularity of flea circuses has waxed and waned over the years.
Source of historical information: Here Comes the Circus by Peter Verney, Paddington Press, London, 1978 ISBN 0-448-23115-8
Circus the Australian Story by Mark St Leon, Melbourne Books, Melbourne, 2011 ISBN 9781877096501
Circus the Australian Story by Mark St Leon, Melbourne Books, Melbourne, 2011 ISBN 9781877096501