Ancient Olympic Events

Equestrian events

Harvard 1933.54
Side B: scene at center
Photograph by Maria Daniels, courtesy of Harvard University Art Museums

Chariot racing


Tampa 86.34
Side A: charioteer and chariot box at left
Photograph by Maria Daniels, courtesy of the Tampa Museum of Art

There were both 2-horse chariot and 4-horse chariot races, with separate races for chariots drawn by foals. Another race was between carts drawn by a team of 2 mules. The course was 12 laps around the stadium track (9 miles).


Tampa 86.24
Side B: two riders
Photograph by Maria Daniels, courtesy of the Tampa Museum of Art

Riding

The course was 6 laps around the track (4.5 miles), and there were separate races for full-grown horses and foals. Jockeys rode without stirrups.

Only wealthy people could afford to pay for the training, equipment, and feed of both the driver (or jockey) and the horses. As a result, the owner received the olive wreath of victory instead of the driver or jockey.


Tampa 86.35
Shoulder: chariot race
Photograph by Maria Daniels, courtesy of the Tampa Museum of Art

Aristophanes, the comic playwright, describes the troubles of a father whose son has too-expensive tastes in horses: "Creditors are eating me up alive...and all because of this horse-plague!" (Aristophanes, Clouds l.240ff.)

To read more about these topics, see Further Resources.

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