Scorpus
Encyclopedia
Scorpus was a famous charioteer
in Roman
times who lived at the end of the 1st century AD
. Scorpus rode for the Green faction during his lifetime and accumulated 2,048 victories. As one of the most famous drivers in Roman history, Scorpus earned extraordinarily large amounts of money; his income surpassing that of professional Roman sponsors. Unfortunately, Scorpus is also known for dying young, at 27 years of age. Martial
, a Roman historian, wrote in his Epigrams: 10.50 "Ah villainy! Scorpus, cheated of your first youth, you die. So soon you yoke black horses," and 10.53 "I am Scorpus, the glory of the clamorous circus, your applause, Rome, and brief darling. Envious Lachesis
snatched me away ere my thirtieth year, but, counting my victories, believed me an old man."
Scorpus was beloved by nearly all Romans who entered the Circus Maximus
, the most famous site of Roman chariot racing, but even more so by the avid supporters of the Green (prasina) faction.
Although it is unknown exactly how Scorpus died, it is most likely to have been in one of the many dangerous crashes that occurred during chariot races. The Romans called these naufragia or literally translated, “shipwrecks”. Charioteers wrapped the reins around their bodies in order to use their body weight to better control the horses. While this is extremely dangerous, the drivers carried daggers that, in the case of an accident, would be used to cut themselves free. However, often after a crash the charioteers were unable to release themselves in time. Crashes often occurred near the turning posts, as shown in a circus relief in the Pergamon Museum
in Berlin
, which shows a fallen charioteer being trampled by another team.
Chariot racing
Chariot racing was one of the most popular ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine sports. Chariot racing was often dangerous to both driver and horse as they frequently suffered serious injury and even death, but generated strong spectator enthusiasm...
in Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
times who lived at the end of the 1st century AD
Anno Domini
and Before Christ are designations used to label or number years used with the Julian and Gregorian calendars....
. Scorpus rode for the Green faction during his lifetime and accumulated 2,048 victories. As one of the most famous drivers in Roman history, Scorpus earned extraordinarily large amounts of money; his income surpassing that of professional Roman sponsors. Unfortunately, Scorpus is also known for dying young, at 27 years of age. Martial
Martial
Marcus Valerius Martialis , was a Latin poet from Hispania best known for his twelve books of Epigrams, published in Rome between AD 86 and 103, during the reigns of the emperors Domitian, Nerva and Trajan...
, a Roman historian, wrote in his Epigrams: 10.50 "Ah villainy! Scorpus, cheated of your first youth, you die. So soon you yoke black horses," and 10.53 "I am Scorpus, the glory of the clamorous circus, your applause, Rome, and brief darling. Envious Lachesis
Lachesis
Lachesis can be:* Lachesis , one of the Moirae the personification of destiny in Greek mythology* Lachesis , or bushmasters, a group of venomous pitvipers found in Central and South America* 120 Lachesis, an asteroid* Lachesis, a...
snatched me away ere my thirtieth year, but, counting my victories, believed me an old man."
Scorpus was beloved by nearly all Romans who entered the Circus Maximus
Circus Maximus
The Circus Maximus is an ancient Roman chariot racing stadium and mass entertainment venue located in Rome, Italy. Situated in the valley between the Aventine and Palatine hills, it was the first and largest stadium in ancient Rome and its later Empire...
, the most famous site of Roman chariot racing, but even more so by the avid supporters of the Green (prasina) faction.
Although it is unknown exactly how Scorpus died, it is most likely to have been in one of the many dangerous crashes that occurred during chariot races. The Romans called these naufragia or literally translated, “shipwrecks”. Charioteers wrapped the reins around their bodies in order to use their body weight to better control the horses. While this is extremely dangerous, the drivers carried daggers that, in the case of an accident, would be used to cut themselves free. However, often after a crash the charioteers were unable to release themselves in time. Crashes often occurred near the turning posts, as shown in a circus relief in the Pergamon Museum
Pergamon Museum
The Pergamon Museum is situated on the Museum Island in Berlin. The site was designed by Alfred Messel and Ludwig Hoffmann and was constructed in twenty years, from 1910 to 1930. The Pergamon houses original-sized, reconstructed monumental buildings such as the Pergamon Altar and the Market Gate...
in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, which shows a fallen charioteer being trampled by another team.