These were violent spectacles, not just spectacles of skill and entertainment. After the time of Augustus, the race laps were marked with little golden dolphins that were tipped as each lap was finished. Betting was widespread, and one of the chief advantages and pleasures of going to the races would have been to bet on teams or individual drivers. The poet Ovid gives an entertaining account of a visit to the races, where he goes not so much to look at the chariots but to look at the girls and try to pick them up as they are being jostled by the crowd.
The whole sense of his poem is about the packed nature of the crowd and excitement of the occasion, and he is trying to be Mr. Charming, the knight in shining armor to a girl who has been jostled around; ultimately it was all a ploy on his part. Learn more about where Roman slaves came from.
We also hear from inscriptions of the enormous popularity of individual charioteers, who often became the superstars of their day. By far the most famous and successful charioteer raced during the reigns of Hadrian and Antoninus Pius in the 2nd century AD. He was an immensely popular and immensely wealthy man at his death. Another charioteer mentioned in historical sources was a young man called Scorpius, who seemed to have a great career ahead of him for the green faction when, unfortunately, he crashed into the finishing post, and his career came to a swift end at the end of the 1st century AD.
Learn more about the construction of the Roman Colosseum. In the end, the emperor had to send in the troops, with the result that 7, people were killed in the ensuing chaos. The support of the charioteers for their faction was noticeable.
All kinds of underhanded stories are told of charioteers poisoning other charioteers or trying to poison their horses so they would perform poorly the next day. The fanatical support of the mob for their individual factions is commented on again and again in the sources.
We hear that in AD one charioteer from one of the factions in Thessalonica in Greece made a sexual advance on a Roman general in the area, and he was ordered to be arrested. When word got out, the supporters of his faction rioted, lynched the general concerned, broke their charioteer out of jail, and, continuing to riot, burned down the center of the city of Thessalonica.
In the end, the emperor had to send in troops, with the result that 7, people were killed in the ensuing chaos. For their horses to become fast in racing, they need to weigh very light and small as possible. Racing chariots in Rome were made of wood and afforded little support or protection for the driver, where he basically needed to balance himself on the axle as he drove. Chariot races were important during this era because it was a way to support social class and political power.
It was held in the Hippodrome in Constantinople. Spectators would wear the same color as their much loved charioteers. These charioteers later had fan clubs and factions that got overgenerous clothing and hairstyles. The race declined during the seventh century after the war between the Roman Empire and the Arabs. Share: Facebook Twitter. Well not every sport, as there is a list of unusual sports , extinct sports and newly created sports.
How to get on these lists? See What is a sport? There, people could communicate with their emperor and a good place for the ruler to solidify his position. These grand arenas were the ultimate symbols of imperial power.
Besides the monuments to charioteers and their horses, the spina was filled with statues of gods, heroes, and emperors. Both the Circus Maximus and the Hippodrome had majestic ancient obelisks brought from distant Egypt as centerpieces.
Initially, chariot races were held only at religious festivals, but from the Late Republic onwards, they would be held on non-festive days as well. On those occasions, the games would be sponsored by prominent Roman dignitaries, including the emperor himself. Unlike present-day sporting events, the entry for a spectacle was free of charge for the common people and the poor.
The elites had better-designated seats, but every stratum of society — slaves and aristocrats, men and women — would gather together at the same place to enjoy the spectacle. Truly, it was a spectacle! The most lavish of all the events — the imperial games held in the capital — included up to twenty-four chariot races per day. More than a thousand horses would run in a single day.
A lightweight, wooden chariot drawn by four horses and piloted by a man tied by the waist to the reins, steering with his weight, was a thrilling sight. A charioteer would have to complete seven laps, careering around corners at dangerously high speeds, avoiding other chariots, and the ever-present present danger of a crash, maiming, and often, death.
No wonder that chariot races generated a delirious atmosphere of thrill and excitement. Chariot racing was a sport that involved both the athletes and the spectators. While racing, the charioteers were roared on by a huge crowd, which created a cacophony alien to our ears.
Think modern football games, or car races, but much, much louder. Dirty tricks were encouraged by the gambling mania that involved both the athletes and spectators, who could win or lose a small fortune betting on their favorites. Chariot racing was an extremely dangerous sport. Ancient sources are filled with records of the famous racers in their youth, crushed against the spina or dragged on by the frenzied horses after the chariot was smashed.
Even outside the field, sabotage was common. However, if a charioteer was lucky enough to win, he could earn a substantial amount of money. If a charioteer survived many races, he then became an ancient superstar rivaling senators in wealth and a living god inspiring legions of his fans.
The greatest charioteer of the ancient world and the wealthiest sportsmen ever was Gaius Appuleius Diocles , who lived in the second century CE.
Diocles won 1, of 4, races, and more importantly, retired in good health, which was a rarity in this dangerous sport. Scorpus was another famous charioteer, whose brilliant career of 2 victories was cut short by a crash when he was only 26 years old. The most famous charioteers were honored with monuments raised on the spina after their death.
This was not the case with Porphyrius , the charioteer who raced in the 6th century CE. Porphyrius continued racing in his 60s and is the only known charioteer who was honored by a monument during his life. Porphyrius is also the only known charioteer who raced for opposed circus factions Blues and Greens on the same day and won on both occasions.
His fame and popularity were so great, that both factions honored him with monuments. But for many ancient Romans, chariot racing was an essential part of political life. For the emperor, a day at the races was an opportunity to show his benevolence and boost popularity, as well as a good place to gauge public opinion. The political dimension of chariot racing further increased in the late Empire, as the emperors spent most of the time in their new capital, Constantinople.
0コメント