A Chariot Racing Day in the Roman Times

A Chariot Racing Day in the Roman Times

The Circus Maximus was the oldest and the largest of all the circuses

where chariot races took place holding up to 250, 000 spectators. It

was traditionally founded in the sixth century BC by Tarquinius

Priscus, the fifth king of Rome. In 329 BC, permanent starting gates

were constructed and, in 174 BC, that they were rebuilt and seven

large wooden eggs were set up to indicate the completion of each lap.

The track was originally formed by the low ground of the valley.

Inside, the track was covered with a bed of sand which sparkled with

bright mineral grain. The lower seat tier was made out of marble, the

second was made out of wood and the third seemed to have offered

standing places only.

[IMAGE]

This is a model of Circus Maximus in completion. All around it is the

seating and there is a tiny building in between where the judges must

have been. The charioteers must have started on the left in the

starting gates; the Romans called it the Spina Metae. They would go

down where they would have to make a very sharp turn with other

charioteers in the way. It must have been hard unless they were very

skilful.

The races started with a procession of chariots through the

Processional Gate, the horses sleek and well groomed, the charioteers

splendid in their colourful costumes. Statues and Gods were paraded:

Jupiter, King of the Gods, Mars, God of War, and Venus, Goddess of

Love and beauty and Neptune. People in the crowd wore the colours of

the team they supported.

Most drivers were proud of their horses if they won the races. They

were very highly trained, probably more than today, s...

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...ew of the

spectators. Often escorted by outriders and riders on lead ponies, the

horses are positioned in individual stalls within the starting gate,

located at the starting line. When the field, as the entrants are

collectively called, is evenly aligned, the starter presses a button

to open the stall gates. This is rather similar to Roman chariot

racing.

Bibliography

'Gladiators - the basics' by Claire Gruzelier

Chariot Racing Sources

'http://www.vroma.org/~bmcmanus/circus_sources.html'

'Daily Life in Ancient Rome' Chapter III'The Races'

'Life and Leisure in Ancient Rome' Chapter 10 'The Races'

'Sidonius, Apollinaris, Poems 23.323-424

'Ovid, Love Affairs' 3.2.1-14, 19-26, 33-38, 43-59 and 61-84

'Pliny the Younger' Letters 9.6

CIL 6.10048/10050

'Martial, Epigrams' 10.53, 50 (5-8)