Smithsonian Channel Documentaries

Rome's Chariot Superstar - Part I (2019x4)

Air date: Apr 21, 2019

Part 1: Slave to Star Before Flavius Scorpus became a superstar charioteer in ancient Rome's most popular sport, he was a young slave who dreamed of freedom. Explore the early years of Scorpus' life to see how he escaped his circumstances to become history's most talented and successful charioteer. We rebuild and test the chariots he rode, investigate how the races really worked, and then hit the track for a white-knuckled look at the violent and hugely competitive races.