Sources for Roman Chariot Racing

Books: (see also General Reference Works)

Auguet, Roland. Cruelty and Civilization: The Roman Games. London: Allen and Unwin, 1972.

Harris, H. A. Sport in Greece and Rome. Aspects of Greek and Roman Life. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1972.

Humphrey, John H. Roman Circuses: Arenas for Chariot Racing. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1986.

Wistrand, Magnus. Entertainment and Violence in Ancient Rome: The Attitudes of Roman Writers of the First Century A. D. Göteburg: Acta Universitatis Gothoburgensis Universitatis, 1992.

External Links:

• Circus Maximus (SPQR's Notae site, by James Grout)
• The Circus Maximus (International Museum of the Horse)
• Chariot Race 2002 (documentary film by The Learning Channel)

Image List: The following images from the pages on this topic are available through the VRoma Image Archive; further information can be found by consulting the various slide indices. Images in the VRoma Archive may be used for non-commercial purposes, either by downloading the images or by linking to them; it is not necessary to write for permission, but we do ask that you credit the VRoma Project.

mosaic of charioteer Polydus	Etruscan relief of chariot race	Lucanian tomb painting chariot race	model of Circus Maximus	Circus Maximus from Palatine (1970s)
Trier Landesmuseum, 3rd century CE	Palermo Museum	Paestum Museum, 5th century BCE	plastico, EUR Museum	Rome

Circus Maximus from Palatine (1990s)	plan of Circus Maximus	reconstruction drawing of Circus Maximus (Gatteschi)	model of Circus Maximus from carceres	track of Circus Maximus in 1970s
Rome	Platner (1911) p. 407	Kuhn (1913), p. 114, fig. 122	EUR Museum	Rome

detail of mosaic showing euripus	reconstruction drawing showing meta	Circus Maximus model showing finish line	ruins of Circus Maximus structures w. staircase	detail of marble circus relief—pulvinar
Lyon circus mosaic	modern	EUR Museum	Rome	Vatican Museum, 3rd century CE

terra-cotta lamps of chariot teams	mosaic of boy charioteer	relief of charioteer from Neumagen	statue of charioteer	relief of chariot race showing accident
British Museum	Piazza Armerina, 4th century CE	Trier Landesmuseum	Rome	Pergamon Museum, c. 300 CE

bronze statuette of biga	model of military chariot	model of racing chariot	gilded bronze statuette of charioteer	Lucanian tomb painting of quadriga
British Museum	EUR Museum	EUR Museum	Mainz Landesmuseum	Paestum Museum, 5th century BCE

mosaic of race horses	mosaic of chariot team in procession	"A Chariot Race" (Alex Wagner)	mosaic of charioteer receiving palm
Tunis, Bardo Museum	Piazza Armerina, 4th century CE	Kuhn (1913), p. 96	Piazza Armerina, 4th century CE

mosaic of 4 stables	detail, mosaic of charioteer from Blues	detail, mosaic of charioteer from Greens	detail, mosaic of charioteer from Reds
Palazzo Massimo, 3rd century CE	Palazzo Massimo, 3rd century CE	Palazzo Massimo, 3rd century CE	Palazzo Massimo, 3rd century CE

detail, mosaic of charioteer from Whites	mosaic of victorious Red charioteer	mosaic of victorious Green charioteer	fragment of glass bowl with charioteer
Palazzo Massimo, 3rd century CE	Madrid Archaeological Museum, 3rd century CE	Madrid Archaeological Museum, 3rd century CE	British Museum, 1st century CE

ivory charioteer with palm	sarcophagus relief of cupids in chariot race	relief showing carceres in circus	model of a Roman circus
British Museum, 1st-2nd century CE	Vatican Museum, 3rd century CE	British Museum, 120-40 CE	EUR Museum

model of spina in Circus Maximus	model of stands in Circus Maximus	lamp with quadriga	lamp with victorious charioteer
EUR Museum	EUR Museum	British Museum, 40-70 CE	British Museum, 30-70 CE

lamp with chariot horse and fans	lamp with chariot race in Circus Maximus	signet ring with circus scene	magistrate throwing down mappa	magistrate throwing down mappa
British Museum, 1st century CE	British Museum, 2nd-3rd century CE	British Museum, 2nd-3rd century CE	Montemartini Museum, 4th century CE	Montemartini Museum, 4th century CE

mosaic from Basilica of Junius Bassus	detail, terracotta relief showing meta	relief of circus procession	detail, relief of circus procession	child's toy chariot
Palazzo Massimo, 4th century CE	British Museum, 1st century CE	British Museum, c. 280 CE	British Museum, c. 280 CE	British Museum, 1st century CE

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