The Byzantine Chaariot Race

In Byzantine Chariot Racing, people of different classes and organizations will react differently to a chariot race event. Chariot races was a very big deal back in the Roman Empire, more than gladiator fights, with over 70 races held each year, and continued to be well into the Byzantine Empire. The races became so important it influenced the society and politics of the Byzantine Empire. One such example is the Nika Riots in 531, when people took the opportunity to chant their complains to the Emperor which later turned into a riot.

The demes were the competing teams in the chariot races. By the fall of Rome there were the Blues and the Greens. Most common people would support the Greens because that was the team competing against the aristocracy(blues).

Seating in the hippodrome is limited, with about 80,000 people at max. Social status and position does not matter inside the stadium so everybody looks forward to it. This also means that people who are displeased with the emperor can add hints in between the roars and cries of the crowd to let the emperor know. Some emperors look forward to these races to listen to his people and raise his reputation as a good ruler.

The chariot drivers themselves are usually lower class people or slaves. During the race they wear a blue or green toga to represent their team. Winners of the race gets huge amounts of money along with the reputation of a hero among the people. So lower class people might participate to buy themselves freedom or go up in society.

The Church generally does not like the chariot races for some reason but due to the popularity of it the church really can’t change a person’s opinion of chariot racing. The Church did manage to ban events during the weekends, but during the other days most of the church members went to the races anyways for the free food and excitement these events