1. Roman Chariot Racing
By Dean Schwartz

2. Background Information
Greek chariot racing
Etruscan chariot racing
Roman chariot racing
One of oldest sports of Rome (6th century B.C.E.)
By legend, racing was used by Romulus to distract the Sabine men during the Rape of the Sabine Women to take the women to Rome
Held in the Circus
Religious purposes
Entertainment
Charioteer, chariot, and horses

3. Charioteer Leather helmet Knee pads Shin pads
Colored tunics (vestis quadrigaria) according to team
Four major teams (factiones)
Green (Prasini)
Red (Russata)
White (Alba)
Blue (Veneta)
Hair in a curly style
Reigns in left hand, whip in right
Knife on back to cut free in case of crash

4. Winning Charioteers Receive lots of money Fame
Well-known throughout people
If slave, retrieve freedom
Famous Charioteers
Pontius Epaphroditus
Pompeius Musclosus
Gaius Appuleius Diocles
1462 victories

5. Types of Chariots Team of horses - auriga Bigae - two horses
Trigae - three horses
Quadrigae - four horses
Sejuges - six horses
Septemjuges - seven horses

6. Racing Chariot vs. Military Chariot
Small
Lightweight
Weak
Little protection
Military Chariot
Large
Very heavy
Strong
Lots of protection

7. Circus Maximus Between Palatine Hill and Aventine Hill
Could seat 250,000

8. Day at the Races Parade (pompa circensis) Up to 12 racers
One who sponsors race
Charioteers and teams
Musicians and dancers
Priest carrying statues of gods and goddesses
Up to 12 racers
12 races per day, later 24
Sounding of trumpet
Emperor dropped cloth (mappa) signaling beginning of race
7 laps
Could move in front of opposition, causing to crash into spinae (tables with pieces of marble in shapes of eggs or dolphins)

9. Tomb of Roman official

10. Sources http://www.vroma.org/~bmcmanus/circus.html