They were the superstars of their time, every child knew their names and even emperors prided themselves on them: the charioteers of ancient Rome. This documentary goes behind the scenes of the greatest spectacle of the classical world as it closely follows the legendary rise of the young Scorpus from a slave to one of the most successful charioteers in the lion’s den at the impressive Circus Maximus, which held more than 150,000 spectators. At the time, chariot races were as popular as football or Formula 1 are today. They were an integral part of society that linked the emperor to the people: everyone identified with them.
At the heart of this film are the elaborately reconstructed and re-enacted races that are coupled with documentary segments, giving viewers incredibly rich, new insights into the highly influential Roman society.
