Circuses are believed to have originated in ancient Rome, where they were known as "ludi circenses" (Latin for "games of the circus") or simply "circus" in Latin. The first recorded circus in Rome was the Circus Maximus, built in the 6th century BC. These circuses hosted various forms of entertainment, such as chariot races, gladiator contests, animal hunts, acrobatic performances, and theatrical productions. Over time, the term "circus" came to be associated with the traveling performance groups that emerged in the 18th century, featuring a wide variety of acts and performers.