![]() Ancient Rome’s Superstar Charioteerįlavius Scorpus was not born into a life of luxury, fame, and high social status. The Romans, having more in common than difference with the Etruscans than they cared to admit, also adopted chariot racing and turned it into mass entertainment. The latter introduced chariot racing to the Etruscans, who embedded the sport into their culture. ![]() They regularly came into contact with other civilizations such as the Phoenicians and the Greeks. At the height of their power in the 6th century, the Etruscans became a trading powerhouse in the Mediterranean. Beyond the Olympicsīefore the Romans, there were the Etruscans. It was the loophole that she found in the rules, thus enabling her to compete and ultimately, win. In ancient Greece, women were not allowed to step foot on the Olympic grounds.īut charioteers like Kyniska, a Spartan princess, became a legend for leading her chariot team to victory twice without being physically present. Besides being crowned with an olive wreath, horse winners were usually presented with 140 ceramic pots of olive oil, a highly-prized and invaluable commodity to the Greeks.īecause of the sport’s immense popularity, chariot racing also became a popular avenue for women to take part in the Olympic Games although not personally. What was appalling though, was that the horse owners and not the racers would bask in the glory of winning. In the Ancient Olympics, chariots raced 12 times around the tracks. As the sound of the trumpet heralded the start of the race, the clamor of the audience would grow louder as the chariots and their drivers entered the arena. Races were held in a Hippodrome, the Greek equivalent of the Circus Maximus. The four-horse chariot race received the most fanfare, making it the most prestigious and the longest-lasting event. Since then, chariot racing became one of the most highly anticipated events in the games. It proved to be a huge success for the demanding audience who were instantly enthralled with the gripping, visceral, and dangerous nature of the sport. The first chariot racing event was introduced in the Ancient Olympic Games in 680 BC. It didn’t only serve as a stadium to hold chariot races, but it also served as a central venue for ludi publici or the Roman public games. ![]() In the times of the ancient Romans, Circus Maximus was as iconic as the sport itself. It still stands in Rome today, albeit in ruins. It was constructed in the 6th century BCE, and nestled between the Palatine and Aventine hills.Ĭircus Maximus was a stadium built for chariot racing. Spectators that numbered hundreds of thousands congregated in a specially-built arena called the Circus Maximus. Over time, it was organized as a form of show business where exceptional racers catapulted into “stardom” status. But it also proved to bring in huge profits. Getting thrown from overturned or broken chariots entailed possible injuries - or worse, death - for the participants as they could get trampled by the charging horses or get caught in the reins.Ĭhariot racing was very expensive, and it could only be witnessed by the wealthy and those who were deemed with high regard in the society - especially the emperor. This meant danger for the racers, also known as charioteers, who mostly consisted of slaves or freedmen. The horses were often beautifully decorated, adorned with gems of various colors braided into their manes or tails.Īs the chariots need to be as fast as possible, they were built to be light and aerodynamic. The chariots were color-coded in red, white, green, and blue to represent the four principal teams.ĭrivers would enter the race track perched on two-wheeled, open-backed chariots made of wood that provided little to no protection. Races usually lasted for seven laps, and included as many as 12 chariots at a time. It was a race that pitted small, two-wheeled vehicles drawn by two-, four-, or six-horse-teams. Chariot racing is less violent than the gladiator games, but it doesn’t mean that it’s not as extreme and dangerous.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |