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Chariot racing, in the ancient world, a popular form of contest between small, two-wheeled vehicles drawn by two-, four-, or six-horse teams. They were the main events of the Roman public games that took place at the Circus Maximus. Learn more about chariot racing in this article.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Chariot racing (Greek: ἁρματοδρομία, harmatodromía; Latin: ludi circenses) was one of the most popular ancient Greek, Roman, and Byzantine sports. In Greece, chariot racing played an essential role in aristocratic funeral games from a very early time.
- Chariot Racing's Origins
- Chariot Drivers Held Low Status—But Could Become Rich
- Chariot Racing as A Roman National Pastime
- Riot Hastens The End of Roman-Style Chariot Racing
In legend, the sport dates back to the city’s founder, Romulus, who supposedly oversaw the construction of the first racetrack, the Circus Maximus, in the 6th century B.C. The contests went on to become not just the most popular sporting event in ancient Rome, but a deeply embedded part of Roman culture that lasted for centuries. Over time, the rac...
Chariot racing wasn’t quite as gruesome as the death matches between gladiators that Romans staged for audiences. Drivers had to be phenomenally skilled and athletic just to compete. As Bell has written, they came from all over the Roman Empire—most were enslaved, freedmen or foreigners. It was rare for a driver to be a freeborn Roman citizen. Driv...
“Chariot racing was a national pastime in which a large percentage of the population from all classes came together, by choice, for the thrill of the races,” explains Casey Stark, an assistant professor of teaching in the history department at Bowling Green State University. More than that, “It was also a place to see and be seen. Seating arrangeme...
Chariot racing was so popular that even after Imperial Rome fellin 476 A.D., the sport continued for a while, with the city’s new barbarian rulers continuing to hold races. It also remained popular in the eastern empire that had split from Rome, though it finally started to wane there after fans’ fanaticism reached unruly extremes. At one hotly-con...
Feb 2, 2023 · Chariot racing was very big business in ancient Rome. There was a whole industry built around the factions, the four professional stables known by their team colour – Blue, Green, Red, and White –, providing all that was required for a race: horses, stable managers, blacksmiths, doctors, assistants to the charioteers, operators for the gate ...
Chariot racing is one of the most thrilling, visceral and danger-filled sports ever invented by man. Present at the Ancient Olympic Games from 680BC, it continues to capture our attention and fuel our imagination more than two-and-a-half thousand years later.
The quadriga, a chariot pulled by four horses abreast, was the most common configuration, demanding the charioteer manage the power and temperaments of four individual steeds. This required an intricate balance: pushing for speed while ensuring the horses maintained stamina throughout the race.
Jun 24, 2021 · Chariot racing was the NASCAR of ancient Rome. HISTORY MAGAZINE. Chariot racing stirred up both love and hate in ancient Rome. The fastest sport on two wheels thrilled fans in packed...
