Patty Colaneri, age 13, of San Diego, Calif., for her question:

WHERE WAS THE FIRST CIRCUS HELD? 

Almost everybody loves the circus. It is a wonderful show where funny clowns, fearless trapeze artists, brave animal tamers and other thrilling acts captivate the audience. Bright costumes and peppy music add to the magic.

Thousands of years ago the first circus was held. Ancient Romans held circuses that featured chariot races and savage battles between warriors. They also displayed wild animals, jugglers, wire walkers and men performing exciting feats of strength.

Roman circuses were held in tremendously large arenas. The Circus Maximus, the largest stadium in ancient Rome, seated more than 180,000 people.

The word circus comes from a Latin word meaning circle or ring. The ancient stadiums were circular in shape.

The modern circus originated in England during the 1700s. An expert horseman and riding master named Philip Astley gave equestrian exhibitions that also featured his students. Accompanying the riding performances were musicians, acrobats and clowns.

    The first American circus, called Rickett's, was established in Philadelphia in 1972, and it also featured riding acts, jugglers and clowns.

America's golden age of the circus started in the late 1800s. Ten large circuses then toured the country, each boasting that it was the biggest and best. One of them, established in 1871, belonged to Phineas T. Barnum. His "Greatest Show on Earth" combined with one owned by James A. Bailey in 1881.

The five Ringling brothers started a great circus in Baraboo, Wis., in 1884. The Ringlings purchased the Barnum and Bailey show in 1907 and combined the two organizations into one giant operation in 1 91 9.

The Ringling family sold its famous circus in 1967 although the old name continued.

Today circuses travel' by train or truck and often perform in stadiums and auditoriums to avoid the high cost of transportation and setting up tents.

In the golden days of the circus, the Ringling big top was a tent 500 feet long and 200 feet wide that would seat more than 12,000 people.