Roman Chariot R acing

1. Roman Chariot Racing Bradford Webb

2. Possibly the oldest spectacular sport in Rome, chariot racing dates back at least to the sixth century BCE. It was quite popular among the Romans and contributed greatly to many aspects of Roman civilization

3. We can also see depictions of chariot racing in Rome, they had religious ties, particularly to the chariot-driving deities Sol (the sun) and Luna (the moon), and to a god called Consus, an agricultural deity who presided over granaries.

4. Originally chariot races (ludi circenses) were held only on religious festivals like the Consualia, but later they would also be held on non-feast days when sponsored by magistrates and other Roman dignitaries.

5. Less violent than the gladiators, chariot racing was still an extreme, dangerous sport, in which drivers could die. They lasted seven laps and would include as many as 12 chariots at any one time. To be as fast as possible, the chariots had to be very light, which made them very dangerous for their drivers, who were usually slaves or freedmen. This is an example of a ring

6. It is claimed that the Circus Maximus in Rome had room for more than 350,000 spectators. Rivalry was sometimes fierce. This rivalry sometimes resulted in fights between spectators. On one occasion, Emperor Vitellius, who was a strong supporter of the Blues, had several spectators executed for shouting out rude comments about his team.

7. Works cited • http://www.vroma.org/~bmcmanus/circus.html • http://www.mariamilani.com/ancient_rome/Ancient_Roman_Chariot_Races.htm • http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ROMchariot.htm