Article: THEY'RE OFF!(chariot racing in ancient Rome)

As the pre-dawn crowd gathers outside the Circus Maximus, anticipation and excitement fill the damp morning air. The year is A.D. 126, and Emperor Hadrian has declared a public holiday so that Romans can enjoy a day at the races.

Even though the first group of chariots will not leave the starting gate for several hours, people have come from all over the city to vie for seats in the sections assigned to them. They know they will be crowded and uncomfortable, but no one complains, The talk concerns only the races: Will the red team win or the white? The blue or the green? The purple or the gold? Which charioteer will win the prized palm leaf and a purse of gold? Which ...

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