Ancient Roman Charioteers in the Roman Myths - Essay Example

Ancient Roman Charioteers Some of the most glorified individuals in the Roman myths are the charioteers and gladiators. Charioteers participated in chariot racing in the ancient Roman Empire. The circus of the Rome is one of the most popular and impressive spectacles. Chariot-racing despite being a dangerous sport produced heroes and monsters who gained mythical reputation. Those who succeed gained mythical reputation while the unlucky one died cruel deaths from grisly accidents in the race. Nevertheless, based on the sources provided, the ancient Roman charioteer has a typically dangerous life and career. The sources reveal that most Roman charioteers died at a young age, thus implying the danger of such a career. For example, one driver for the Blue faction in around AD 68 died at the age of 25 (ILS 5284). Crescens, the driver for the Blue faction in around Ad 115-124 died at 22 years old (ILS 5285). Moreover, Fuscus, driver for the Greens, died in around AD 35 at the age of 24 (ILD 5278). In the same way, Marcus Aurelius Polynices died at 29 and his brother Marcus Aurelius Mollicius Tatianus died at 20 (ILS 5286). All of these documented accounts of charioteers were never able to live past the age of 29. In fact, although some of the ancient Roman charioteers may have survived the race past the age of 30, charioting as a career still posed as a great danger to many charioteers considering that there was always the possibility that one’s life would end early. The sources imply that the impulse to win and to keep racing was great despite the danger because of the promise of reward and recognition, thus further endangering one’s life in the seemingly endless pursuit of such a career. The promise and temptation of the rewards accorded to the best charioteers must have been a continuous source of inspiration for many young charioteers who sought fame, fortune and recognition. For example, the driver for the Blue faction in around AD 68 received honors 354 times (ILS 5284). Glabrio, in around AD 115-124, received prizes of 1,558,346 sesterces (ILS 5285). In addition, Marcus Aurelius Polynices won the 40,000-sesterces prize 3 times, the 30,000-sesterces prize 26 times, and the pure prize 11 times (ILS 5286). Lacerta of the Reds also made as much money as to finance 100 lawyers to leave his sons (ILS 5287). Publius Aelius Gutta Calpurnianus, also won numerous awards, with the greatest at 50,000 sesterces once, 40,000 sesterces 9 times, and 30,000 sesterces 17 times (ILS 5288). Such prices have been so great and so there was always the drive in the charioteers to achieve these rewards. Moreover, erected monuments and speeches to glorify the victors even in their deaths actually served as an inspiration to many charioteers to keep on with their careers. Perhaps, the Roman charioteers dedicated their lives to their career in that they could only imagine fame and glory at the end of their careers or at the end of their lives every time they embarked on a competition. Despite the drive towards excellence, such a great ambition must have put all of them in danger. The sources also say that both the rich and the poor competed against each other in chariot racing, thus implying that the competition is an opportunity for poor people to gain fame and wealth, while it is a challenge for the rich to defend their honor. Thus, the danger of death always followed the charioteers in their decision to continue their careers. Certain poor people and freedmen were charioteers at an early age. One of these was Carisia Nesis Scirtis in AD 25, who was a freedman and driver for the white faction (ILS 5283). His numerous awards must have challenged the rich nobles to be at par with him in the field of charioting. Moreover, Fuscus, a poor man in around the 1st century AD, was also given due recognition for the glory of his charioting career when he was still alive (ILS 5301). In spite of the poverty of Fuscus, he was given glory by both the rich and the poor Romans. Thus, it seems that charioting was the only way through which a poor man could be given due recognition in life, especially in the midst of a society that heavily discriminated against the poor. On the other hand, Marcus Aurelius Polynices and Marcus Aurelius Mollicius Tatianus must have been among the nobles by virtue of their names and fame (ILS 5286). Moreover, Publius Aelius Gutta Calpurnianus, who identified himself as the son of Marius Rogatus, may also have been a wealthy noble because he himself had his statues erected in his honor in around the 9th century AD (ILS 5288). These nobles may have competed in the chariot races for the same reasons that the poor and freedmen did. Moreover, the rich nobles may have done so in order not to appear defeated and disgraced with the victories of those in the lower classes who excelled in charioting. Thus, the continuous envy and competition among the nobles and the lower classes in Rome must have fueled the drive of many men to continue engaging in such a dangerous sport. In conclusion, chariot racing in ancient Rome was a dangerous sport associated with high incidences of physical injury death and violence, and this claim is justified in three ways: most charioteers died young; the prizes and recognition were too great to avoid; and the competition between the nobles and the poor was seemingly endless. Thus, these things made the lives of the ancient Roman charioteers constantly in great danger. Perhaps, out of the great differences in social classes, the people of Rome were so hungry for recognition and fame that they had to risk their lives all the time just to acquire these. Thus, the same level of danger and competition may actually exist in a society where there is a big gap between the rich and the poor. Read More