This gallery features images of Greek and Roman chariot racers. Chariot racing was the most popular spectator sport in ancient times. In Greece, chariot racing was important in aristocratic funeral games from an early period. As formal races and permanent racetracks were established, chariot racing was adopted by many Greek states and became a part of their religious festivals. In standard Greek racing practice, each chariot held a single driver and was pulled by four horses.
In ancient Rome, chariot racing was an essential part of many religious festivals. The races were held in large, purpose-built structures known as hippodromes or circuses. Spectacular events also took place in other major cities, such as Alexandria, Constantinople, and Antioch. In the Roman Empire, the chariot teams were organized into four principal factions: the Blues, Greens, Reds, and Whites.
The racehorses were bred on private and imperial stud farms in North Africa, Cappadocia, Sicily, Spain, and Thessaly. The incredibly successful racers could become millionaires, and one of the most famous charioteers was a man named Gaius Appuleius Diocles, who, in the 2nd century CE, won a total of 1,463 races.
