#RomanCircusBlog – Yulia

Today, CAT staff Yulia illuminates the tragic nature of chariot racing, through a short story of the death of a charioteer.

“I was Roman and I became a public hero in my early 20s. As a charioteer, I made enormous amounts of money, winning more than 2000 races. I even bought my freedom. But then, at the age of 27, I tragically died.

It was another festive day at the races. It began with a sacred procession through streets, which included dancers, musicians, temple attendants, and us, the charioteers. Eventually, the parade reached the Circus, where thousands of excited spectators waited. I knew that the rich staked a fortune in wagers on me. Before the race, I wrapped the reins around my body to use my body weight to better control the horses. I also prepared the knife in case I needed to cut the reins to free myself.

And so, it started. The game’s sponsor dropped a handkerchief onto the track to signal the start of the race. A fair start was assured by a clever mechanical system that opened all the gates at the same time. The gates opened, and we burst onto the track. We hit top speeds of close to 30 miles per hour. I was doing very well and managed six laps. I veered as close as possible to the central barrier. As the race neared its end, the tactics became more violent. The charioteers tried to ‘shipwreck’ me by whipping their horses into the back of my chariot. My crash occurred near the turning post. I was thrown from my overturned chariot. I couldn’t free myself this time. The teams of attendants on hand rushed onto the track and cleared away the wreckage.”