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Narrator: Rome.
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The year is 90 ad.
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The city rules the greatest
empire the world has ever known.
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To us, roman sporting
spectacle usually
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Means one thing, in one place.
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Gladiators in the colosseum.
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50,000 people cheering
on fights to the death.
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But less than a mile away,
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And for over 1000 years,
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Crowds three times that size,
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Were hooked on a much,
much bigger spectacle.
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00:00:55,356 --> 00:00:56,688
Chariot racing.
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The sport's biggest supporter
is the emperor, domitian.
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00:01:05,432 --> 00:01:09,435
And from the speed,
danger, noise, and death,
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00:01:09,503 --> 00:01:12,971
One man emerges as the greatest
charioteer of them all.
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Flavius scorpus.
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A slave, but who was scorpus
and how did he escape
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Almost hopeless odds to become
arguably the most talented
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And successful competitor
in the sport's history?
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We'll dig deep into the world
of rome's chariot superstar.
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Bell: This is not a
profession respectable
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Roman citizens would take up.
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Narrator: Build
and test his chariots.
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Loades: Trying to keep
them all straight
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Is really challenging,
especially on the bends
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Narrator: Investigate
how races really worked.
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Bockmann: This is the turning
point for the chariots,
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You have to imagine three
big cones standing on there,
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This is the crucial point
where the race is won or lost.
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Narrator: And discover
the pomp and spectacle
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Of race day in the biggest
arena the world has ever seen.
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Rome's mighty circus maximus.
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And the man who
conquered it all.
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Scorpus.
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90 years after the birth of
jesus christ, emperor domitian
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Is on the throne and rome is
the greatest city on earth.
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Bell: Rome in this period
was at the height
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Of its imperial power
and the trappings
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Of that wealth were
on display everywhere.
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00:02:53,340 --> 00:02:56,141
Toner: It's a huge city,
a million inhabitants
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Which by pre-industrial
standards is enormous,
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There were huge
numbers of slaves.
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Perhaps, uh, 30% of the
population was slaves.
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00:03:08,689 --> 00:03:10,889
When we think of rome we
tend to think of the great
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Classical buildings with
their clean white marble
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But the reality would
have been much grubbier.
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There were very few
toilets for example
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The city must have smelt.
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00:03:21,302 --> 00:03:22,834
There are records
of people going
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To the toilet behind
imperial statues.
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00:03:26,106 --> 00:03:27,639
Narrator: Emperor
domitian is a member of
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The flavian dynasty, the
family who built the flavian
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Amphitheater, now known
as the colosseum in rome.
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Toner: The first flavian
emperor, verspasian,
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Builds the colosseum and
it's a powerful statement
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Of how he wants to be seen
as an emperor who is giving
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People the entertainment
that they really want.
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The colosseum's finished
by his son titus
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After he dies and titus
only lives for two years
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00:03:54,134 --> 00:03:57,302
And the younger brother,
domitian comes to the throne.
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Narrator: Domitian needs
to gain popularity fast after
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The death from fever of his
more charismatic brother titus.
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00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:08,146
So he keeps up the
family tradition
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Of lavishing money on
mass entertainment.
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Toner: He chooses
the circus maximus,
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As a great opportunity
to expand the site,
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Make it more luxurious,
somewhere where
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Every roman wants to
go and have some fun.
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Narrator: Like his brother
and father before him,
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Domitian is famous for
exploiting the power of what
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00:04:29,236 --> 00:04:33,104
The romans called bread and
circuses, keeping the people
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Of rome on his side by
spending a fortune giving
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Them free grain and
lavish entertainment.
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00:04:40,047 --> 00:04:41,713
Willekes: One of the most
famous terms to come out
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Of roman world is panem et
circenses, bread and circuses.
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00:04:45,119 --> 00:04:48,053
Which basically means
keep the masses fed,
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Keep them entertained
and they will be happy
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And they're not going to
revolt or riot against you
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Because they'll be
too distracted by
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Everything that's going on
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And they're not going to
have empty stomachs to be angry.
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Grig: So it's a very important
part of the relationship
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Between the emperor and
the people to take part
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In the give and
take so famously.
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00:05:07,474 --> 00:05:10,075
The games are a place where the
emperor and the people meet,
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00:05:10,077 --> 00:05:11,810
They can make demands
of the emperor, they can
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Demand things, he can
give them concessions,
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It's important to
see and be seen.
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Narrator: Rome was home to
a million people and a large
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Proportion crammed into the
circus maximus on race day.
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When the emperor joined
150,000 screaming
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Fans, roaring on their heroes.
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Grig: 150,000, for comparison
that's something like three
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Times as many people who can
sit in the yankee stadium.
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It's the largest built
structure in the roman world.
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The circus maximus is massive.
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Narrator: The
heroes of this gigantic
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Stage were the charioteers.
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They came from all
across the roman world.
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In domitian's time
the empire stretched
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From north africa to
britain, from Spain to syria.
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Across this vast
area we can still
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00:06:03,063 --> 00:06:06,131
See the places where
charioteers trained.
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00:06:06,199 --> 00:06:07,933
Where they raced and
constantly risked their
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00:06:08,001 --> 00:06:12,704
Lives to get to the biggest
stage of them all in rome.
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Hidden away among the
tombstones in the museo urbino,
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There's a remarkable
clue to the identity of
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The biggest start of
the circus maximus.
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It's found on the
humble tombstone
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Of an ordinary bureaucrat.
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Bell: At first sight
this monument doesn't
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Look like anything special.
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At the top, what we see is
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The deceased himself
at a funerary banquet.
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00:06:51,178 --> 00:06:52,911
Like other romans,
the idea seems to be
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00:06:52,979 --> 00:06:57,115
That he wants to be seen
celebrating the high life.
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00:06:57,184 --> 00:06:59,584
But what makes this
monument really special,
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00:06:59,653 --> 00:07:01,887
Is the scene that we have here.
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00:07:03,323 --> 00:07:05,990
Narrator: Beneath the
civil servant is a charioteer
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00:07:05,993 --> 00:07:10,095
And his four horses, but this
isn't just any charioteer
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00:07:13,533 --> 00:07:15,800
Bell: The charioteer's
name is inscribed
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Over his image, scorpus.
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00:07:21,007 --> 00:07:23,675
Along with that we have the
names of his four horses,
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00:07:23,677 --> 00:07:29,514
Ingenues, admeto,
pasorinos and admeto's.
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00:07:35,289 --> 00:07:39,090
So here we have the tombstone
for a roman bureaucrat
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00:07:39,092 --> 00:07:43,328
With the image of a sports
hero of his day, but why?
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00:07:46,032 --> 00:07:48,633
The image of scorpus
is actually acting
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00:07:48,702 --> 00:07:51,102
As a kind of good luck
charm or talisman.
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00:07:52,105 --> 00:07:54,906
Meijer: Many people have a
gravestone with a picture
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Of a charioteer and
that's not so strange.
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Imagine that a man who
died and he was his whole
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Life a supporter of scorpus
that on his gravestone
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00:08:08,789 --> 00:08:14,926
He had a small picture of the
famous charioteer he adored.
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Narrator: Scorpus
would become the michael
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00:08:18,866 --> 00:08:21,466
Jordan or babe ruth of his age.
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00:08:25,739 --> 00:08:28,206
More clues about
scorpus' fame can be
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Found in the
writings of martial.
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00:08:30,544 --> 00:08:33,478
He was domitian's court
poet and he captured rome's
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00:08:33,547 --> 00:08:36,815
Infatuation with scorpus
and his perilous profession.
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"oh rome, I am scorpus, the
glory of your noisy circus,
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"the object of your applause,
your short lived favorite."
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Scorpus was born
in ad68 and he was
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Certainly not born
in to the high life.
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Like so many he had to
work his way up from
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The very bottom, almost
certainly beginning as a slave.
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Toner: Rome was undoubtedly
a violent society,
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There were huge numbers
of slaves who were
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Treated often with
casual brutality.
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But the romans did not
see that as cruelty,
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00:09:25,865 --> 00:09:28,199
They thought it was
just simply necessary
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To maintain stability
and social order.
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Narrator: Analysis of
rome's ancient inscriptions
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Gives a detailed insight
into the humble origins
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And precarious lives
of charioteers.
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Bell: One of the things that
this book does is tell
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Us about the social and legal
background of charioteers,
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Including information that we
can glean from their names.
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For example, we have the
inscription of crescens
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And this inscription tells
us that the was a charioteer
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00:10:00,834 --> 00:10:04,436
For the blue faction,
he died at the age of 22
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And so we can work out
that he began racing at
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00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:10,642
The age of just 13, and
thus his career probably
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00:10:10,710 --> 00:10:13,778
Would have started when
he was about age 10.
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00:10:13,847 --> 00:10:16,914
We can also get information
about his legal background.
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All roman citizens would
have had a three part name
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Or trianamana, but crescens
has just one name, which
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00:10:22,923 --> 00:10:26,558
Tells us that he was born a
slave and that he died a slave.
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Narrator: We know
from the records that
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The great charioteer
scorpus had two names,
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Flavius scorpus, it gives
away his lowly background.
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00:10:38,538 --> 00:10:40,338
Bell: Even a
short name like flavius
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Scorpus is really informative.
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He lacks the three part
name of a roman citizen.
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Flavius refers to his
former master and scorpus
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Tells us that he's probably
of eastern european origin.
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Narrator: The evidence
suggests that young scorpus
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00:11:00,694 --> 00:11:03,061
Was a slave in the
eastern roman empire.
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He would likely have
grown up on a stud farm
179
00:11:06,099 --> 00:11:09,734
Or stables, charged with
menial back breaking work.
180
00:11:11,238 --> 00:11:13,638
Toner: Nearly all charioteers
were bought into
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00:11:13,640 --> 00:11:17,776
The business by stable
owners, and it was
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00:11:17,844 --> 00:11:21,713
An opportunity to win
money, to win glory.
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00:11:21,781 --> 00:11:23,715
And to get out of
the daily grind
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00:11:23,717 --> 00:11:25,283
Of being an ordinary slave.
185
00:11:29,256 --> 00:11:30,922
Narrator: For
slaves like scorpus,
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00:11:30,990 --> 00:11:32,857
There were two options.
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00:11:32,859 --> 00:11:36,561
Grind out a life of hard
labor or find a way out.
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00:11:38,264 --> 00:11:40,732
And if you were
prepared to take risks
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00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:43,401
There was a glimmer of
hope in the roman empire.
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00:11:46,873 --> 00:11:48,940
Grig: One of the distinctive
features of slavery
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00:11:49,008 --> 00:11:50,075
In rome is that a
slave had a possibility
192
00:11:51,278 --> 00:11:53,945
Of freedom so slaves
could be bought and sold,
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00:11:54,013 --> 00:11:55,680
They could be bred on
your own estate but also
194
00:11:55,682 --> 00:11:58,349
You could hope, if you got
lucky that you might work
195
00:11:58,351 --> 00:12:01,119
Your way up and buy your
freedom at the end of it all.
196
00:12:03,089 --> 00:12:04,956
Narrator: We know
little about scorpus'
197
00:12:05,024 --> 00:12:07,692
Early life but he must have
shown a special ability
198
00:12:07,761 --> 00:12:10,628
With horses, it separated
him out from the crowd
199
00:12:10,630 --> 00:12:14,666
And could make his owner some
extra money on the race track.
200
00:12:16,903 --> 00:12:18,436
It was the first
step on the road
201
00:12:18,505 --> 00:12:21,473
To stardom and
potential freedom.
202
00:12:22,375 --> 00:12:24,976
Bell: The majority of slaves in
rome wouldn't have been free
203
00:12:25,044 --> 00:12:28,980
Before the age of 30 but
charioteers were an exception
204
00:12:29,048 --> 00:12:32,450
Especially if they were
favorites of the crowd.
205
00:12:32,452 --> 00:12:35,120
Narrator: By his mid
teens scorpus must have made
206
00:12:35,188 --> 00:12:39,958
His decision, train to be
a charioteer or die trying.
207
00:12:51,671 --> 00:12:56,541
In ancient rome in 90 ad,
chariot racing was the empire's
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00:12:56,609 --> 00:13:01,279
Most popular sport and one
of the greatest drivers was
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00:13:01,347 --> 00:13:05,683
Scorpus, a superstar
with legions of fans.
210
00:13:07,620 --> 00:13:09,287
The design of the chariots used
211
00:13:09,355 --> 00:13:12,056
For racing was all about
strength and speed.
212
00:13:13,226 --> 00:13:14,625
But chariots had
already been around
213
00:13:14,628 --> 00:13:19,564
A long time, over 2000
years before scorpus.
214
00:13:19,632 --> 00:13:23,034
A combination of two
great human advances,
215
00:13:23,036 --> 00:13:27,639
The domestication of horses
and the invention of the wheel.
216
00:13:29,242 --> 00:13:33,111
Ancient art shows that they
began as four wheeled carts but
217
00:13:33,179 --> 00:13:36,781
Evolved into swifter two wheeled
machines used from central
218
00:13:36,850 --> 00:13:41,452
Asia to europe and egypt,
they were built for war.
219
00:13:41,521 --> 00:13:46,457
Loades: They evolved incredibly
high status battlefield
220
00:13:46,526 --> 00:13:50,461
Vehicles and they were used
in their tens of thousands,
221
00:13:50,463 --> 00:13:55,266
Then round about 700 bc,
gradually chariots were
222
00:13:55,335 --> 00:13:58,936
Phased out and it's around
that time that we start
223
00:13:58,939 --> 00:14:03,007
To find hard evidence
of chariot races.
224
00:14:03,076 --> 00:14:06,277
Around about that time, 7th
century bc the olympic games
225
00:14:06,346 --> 00:14:10,348
Start in greece, and
they had chariot racing.
226
00:14:11,484 --> 00:14:14,953
Narrator: By the time scorpus
was driving, around 90 ad,
227
00:14:15,021 --> 00:14:18,723
Chariot racing had been
going for at least 700 years.
228
00:14:19,693 --> 00:14:22,927
But what was his roman
racing chariot exactly like.
229
00:14:23,830 --> 00:14:26,297
The design had been
perfected over centuries
230
00:14:26,299 --> 00:14:30,368
Of competition, but no original
racing chariots survive.
231
00:14:32,639 --> 00:14:35,907
Fortunately the romans
left other clues,
232
00:14:35,909 --> 00:14:39,344
They made models
for sale to fans.
233
00:14:43,917 --> 00:14:47,451
To make an exact replica
of scorpus' chariot,
234
00:14:47,454 --> 00:14:49,453
Coach builder robert
hurford has come to
235
00:14:49,456 --> 00:14:53,558
The british museum to
examine an ancient roman toy.
236
00:14:55,728 --> 00:14:58,262
Hurford: This is a contemporary
model, beautifully made,
237
00:14:58,265 --> 00:14:59,998
You can see by its details
that the man who made
238
00:15:00,066 --> 00:15:02,533
That knows exactly
what he was looking at
239
00:15:02,602 --> 00:15:07,205
And is very skilled in
making a copy of what he saw.
240
00:15:07,273 --> 00:15:10,408
Luckily he chose bronze
so it's lasted this long.
241
00:15:10,410 --> 00:15:14,812
It's showing us how they
made the full size ones.
242
00:15:14,881 --> 00:15:18,683
The floor is obviously straps
of something which lay over
243
00:15:18,751 --> 00:15:21,886
One another, the wheels are
a small diameter so that the
244
00:15:21,955 --> 00:15:26,891
Center of gravity is low so
that it doesn't tip over, you
245
00:15:26,893 --> 00:15:31,329
Could hardly ask for anything
better to follow than that.
246
00:15:33,900 --> 00:15:36,033
Because it's so finely
made I think we can
247
00:15:36,036 --> 00:15:39,637
Really rely upon it
telling us exactly
248
00:15:39,706 --> 00:15:42,840
How they made the
full size ones.
249
00:15:49,849 --> 00:15:51,115
Narrator: Armed
with a blue print of
250
00:15:51,117 --> 00:15:54,185
The british museum toy
chariot, robert is starting
251
00:15:54,253 --> 00:15:58,323
To build a racing replica
of scorpus' machine.
252
00:15:58,391 --> 00:16:02,393
It's going to be driven by
chariot historian mike loades.
253
00:16:02,395 --> 00:16:05,596
Loades: So we've got a couple of
images of roman chariots here,
254
00:16:05,665 --> 00:16:07,665
They look very similar to
each other, but they look
255
00:16:07,667 --> 00:16:11,869
Completely different to any
other chariot I've driven.
256
00:16:11,938 --> 00:16:15,473
I mean I've driven egyptian
chariots, assyrian chariots,
257
00:16:15,475 --> 00:16:18,276
Hittite chariots, mycenaean
chariots, celtic chariots,
258
00:16:18,344 --> 00:16:21,212
I've driven the lot, except
this and they all have
259
00:16:21,214 --> 00:16:25,149
Something in common, they
are battlefield vehicles.
260
00:16:25,218 --> 00:16:27,085
They have a driver
and a warrior.
261
00:16:27,153 --> 00:16:28,619
Usually an archer.
262
00:16:28,621 --> 00:16:30,488
And they have
reasonably big wheels
263
00:16:30,490 --> 00:16:31,956
To go over rough terrain.
264
00:16:32,025 --> 00:16:35,293
This is a different
species all together.
265
00:16:35,361 --> 00:16:36,694
Hurford: It's not
for two people is it.
266
00:16:36,696 --> 00:16:38,563
It's just a little
platform for him
267
00:16:38,631 --> 00:16:40,698
To control those horses on
268
00:16:40,700 --> 00:16:43,834
Loades: It's got that low
wheel-base,
269
00:16:43,837 --> 00:16:45,836
It's a formula 1 racing car,
270
00:16:45,839 --> 00:16:48,506
Is that going to grip the
track is that going to help
271
00:16:48,508 --> 00:16:51,709
Me slide the thing around that
hairpin bend do you think?
272
00:16:51,711 --> 00:16:52,477
Hurford: We'll have to see.
273
00:16:53,513 --> 00:16:54,846
Light weight, minimalist
design, yeah it
274
00:16:54,914 --> 00:16:58,383
Should be easy for
those animals to pull.
275
00:16:59,585 --> 00:17:02,720
Narrator: Step one,
steaming the wood so it
276
00:17:02,789 --> 00:17:05,656
Can be bent into the frame
of the drivers cockpit
277
00:17:05,725 --> 00:17:07,591
Hurford: We're steaming some
timber to make the frame
278
00:17:07,594 --> 00:17:10,261
Of the chariot, we've
got two bits of different
279
00:17:10,263 --> 00:17:13,798
Thicknesses there, one piece
makes the sort of handrail part
280
00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:16,868
And the other is the frame
for the floor and it'll have
281
00:17:16,936 --> 00:17:21,406
Rawhide thongs woven across
it which will make the floor.
282
00:17:21,474 --> 00:17:23,274
The bit we're steaming
into shape here
283
00:17:23,276 --> 00:17:27,845
Is going to be the curved
outside of that frame.
284
00:17:28,948 --> 00:17:30,481
We've got to be fast
with this because if
285
00:17:30,550 --> 00:17:34,285
The heat goes out on the
wood it will start to crack.
286
00:17:39,492 --> 00:17:43,895
We've put several clamps
in positions on this thing
287
00:17:43,963 --> 00:17:48,132
And it's compressing the
timber in some parts.
288
00:17:50,236 --> 00:17:53,037
Okay that's enough I think.
289
00:17:53,106 --> 00:17:56,107
Narrator: The clamps hold
the bent wood in place until
290
00:17:56,175 --> 00:17:59,911
Two hours later it cools
into the new shape.
291
00:17:59,979 --> 00:18:03,414
Hurford: So we've got a nice
frame for our d shaped floor.
292
00:18:06,853 --> 00:18:09,053
Narrator: Next the
wheels, racing chariot
293
00:18:09,055 --> 00:18:11,522
Wheels were small and chunky.
294
00:18:11,591 --> 00:18:13,591
Robert believes that for
strength they were made
295
00:18:13,659 --> 00:18:17,595
From a single piece of
wood, steamed into a circle.
296
00:18:17,597 --> 00:18:19,397
Hurford: This has the grain
297
00:18:19,465 --> 00:18:21,999
Running through the
length of it.
298
00:18:22,001 --> 00:18:25,703
Which means that it makes
the whole thing a stiff unit.
299
00:18:30,276 --> 00:18:32,810
These small wheels,
with very few spokes
300
00:18:32,879 --> 00:18:37,281
Work better if you've
got a long piece
301
00:18:37,350 --> 00:18:40,017
Of continuous grain
as being the rim.
302
00:18:41,487 --> 00:18:43,354
Narrator: With the
wheels taking shape,
303
00:18:43,422 --> 00:18:46,958
Mike tries out the skeleton
of the driving platform.
304
00:18:47,026 --> 00:18:49,760
Loades: So this is an
outline of what
305
00:18:49,829 --> 00:18:51,629
The body is going to be like.
306
00:18:51,697 --> 00:18:54,565
You can see how the
design's working, that angle
307
00:18:54,634 --> 00:18:57,635
Is going to be very braced
and strong, it'll take
308
00:18:57,703 --> 00:19:01,038
Me leaning my weight against
it, of that I'm sure.
309
00:19:01,040 --> 00:19:03,841
It's different to the
chariots I'm used to which
310
00:19:03,910 --> 00:19:07,111
Sit up here and you feel
very secure, but I've got
311
00:19:07,180 --> 00:19:10,648
Good freedom where I need
it to operate the reigns
312
00:19:10,716 --> 00:19:14,719
On the four horses,
this a specialist racing
313
00:19:14,787 --> 00:19:19,657
Machine, can't do anything else
and I can't wait to try it.
314
00:19:25,999 --> 00:19:29,400
Narrator: Flavius scorpus
rose from slavery to become
315
00:19:29,468 --> 00:19:33,270
A superstar in the most
popular sport of ancient rome,
316
00:19:33,273 --> 00:19:37,308
In the greatest arena of
them all, the circus maximus.
317
00:19:38,611 --> 00:19:41,612
But he began his career working
his way up from poverty.
318
00:19:43,016 --> 00:19:45,683
While the evidence
is limited, by age 12
319
00:19:45,751 --> 00:19:48,619
Or 13 the young slave
must have shown he had
320
00:19:48,688 --> 00:19:52,423
The first sparks of the
right stuff to be a racer.
321
00:19:52,491 --> 00:19:55,025
An affinity with
horses, strength,
322
00:19:55,028 --> 00:19:58,896
Balance, and the will to win.
323
00:19:58,898 --> 00:20:00,965
Meijer: Slaves had an
opportunity
324
00:20:01,033 --> 00:20:03,434
To become
charioteer,
325
00:20:03,502 --> 00:20:07,171
Most of them were the sons
of charioteers or they were
326
00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:12,176
Scouted somewhere that
they had special abilities.
327
00:20:12,245 --> 00:20:14,511
And for them it was
an opportunity to
328
00:20:14,514 --> 00:20:17,047
Escape the slave life.
329
00:20:17,050 --> 00:20:19,584
Bell: The skills you would
need as a charioteer included
330
00:20:19,652 --> 00:20:22,853
A natural ability around
horses, as well as an ability
331
00:20:22,855 --> 00:20:26,724
To navigate the chariot at
the dangerous turns or metai,
332
00:20:26,726 --> 00:20:28,559
The turning posts in the circus.
333
00:20:31,664 --> 00:20:33,063
Narrator: The
sport scorpus was
334
00:20:33,066 --> 00:20:35,199
Entering was a lethal one.
335
00:20:37,537 --> 00:20:40,871
Using inscriptions as
evidence, sinclair bell has
336
00:20:40,940 --> 00:20:45,075
Calculated that the average
lifespan of a charioteer was 25
337
00:20:45,078 --> 00:20:49,313
Years and there are records of
racers dying as young as 19.
338
00:20:50,683 --> 00:20:52,617
But despite the overwhelming
odds against success
339
00:20:52,685 --> 00:20:56,887
Or even survival, plenty of
young men like scorpus wanted
340
00:20:56,956 --> 00:21:01,759
To try their skill and luck,
they just needed a break
341
00:21:04,697 --> 00:21:07,097
Bell: There were scouts all
over the roman empire,
342
00:21:07,100 --> 00:21:10,100
Scouring for new talent
because charioteers
343
00:21:10,103 --> 00:21:13,237
Were literally dying to
get to the circus maximus.
344
00:21:14,507 --> 00:21:16,307
Narrator: Chariot racing was
dominated by four
345
00:21:16,309 --> 00:21:19,977
Commercial teams or
factions, each with their own
346
00:21:20,046 --> 00:21:26,884
Identifying color, the reds,
blues, greens, and whites.
347
00:21:27,320 --> 00:21:30,788
A young charioteer had to gain
the factions attention before
348
00:21:30,856 --> 00:21:33,657
He could make any progress on
the racing circuit, but their
349
00:21:33,660 --> 00:21:37,595
Scouts were always looking
out for new talent to replace
350
00:21:37,663 --> 00:21:41,899
Drivers who were either too
old or too injured to race.
351
00:21:47,673 --> 00:21:50,341
Along with finding and
training young chariot drivers,
352
00:21:50,409 --> 00:21:56,714
The factions needed another
vital component, horsepower.
353
00:21:58,551 --> 00:22:02,620
Some of the best chariot horses
were not native to Italy.
354
00:22:02,688 --> 00:22:04,622
They were across the
mediterranean sea,
355
00:22:04,690 --> 00:22:07,491
In rome's african
territories, evidence shows
356
00:22:07,493 --> 00:22:11,962
This was a rich breeding
ground for race horses.
357
00:22:12,031 --> 00:22:14,298
Willekes: One of the reasons we
know north africa was
358
00:22:14,300 --> 00:22:17,635
Producing some of the
best, the largest number
359
00:22:17,703 --> 00:22:20,371
Of race horses but also
some of the best race horses
360
00:22:20,439 --> 00:22:23,307
In the roman world, is because
of inscriptions like this
361
00:22:23,309 --> 00:22:27,244
One right here, and it's
basically recording part
362
00:22:27,246 --> 00:22:31,248
Of the career of a charioteer
named auvillius terrias
363
00:22:31,250 --> 00:22:34,385
And it's from the 1st
century ad and it's a list
364
00:22:34,453 --> 00:22:36,854
Of horse names and they
have names like romulus,
365
00:22:36,922 --> 00:22:42,459
Dromo and 37 of these 42
names have the initials
366
00:22:42,462 --> 00:22:45,396
Af after them
which means africa.
367
00:22:46,399 --> 00:22:48,599
We know that given
the importance of
368
00:22:48,667 --> 00:22:52,403
The circus throughout the
roman empire, thousands
369
00:22:52,471 --> 00:22:54,271
Of horses were being
produced because you needed
370
00:22:54,340 --> 00:22:58,075
A huge volume of horses to
run a single day of races.
371
00:23:00,613 --> 00:23:03,213
Narrator: For scorpus,
and all charioteers,
372
00:23:03,216 --> 00:23:06,150
There was one particular
type of horse that had
373
00:23:06,218 --> 00:23:09,220
The speed, strength,
and stamina they needed.
374
00:23:09,288 --> 00:23:12,222
A horse so tough that it's
been the breeding stock
375
00:23:12,225 --> 00:23:14,959
For the modern thoroughbred,
standard bred and
376
00:23:15,027 --> 00:23:19,897
The american quarter horse,
it's called the berber, or barb.
377
00:23:21,634 --> 00:23:25,903
Driss: They can resist to the
cold, the heat, they can
378
00:23:25,971 --> 00:23:30,107
Live in the desert, in
the mountain, everywhere.
379
00:23:30,109 --> 00:23:33,844
They have good cardiac rhythm
willekes: Oh, yeah, their heart.
380
00:23:33,846 --> 00:23:35,780
Very strong heart
driss: Very strong heart.
381
00:23:36,649 --> 00:23:39,116
Willekes: What are
the physical characteristics
382
00:23:39,118 --> 00:23:42,520
That identify a barb
from other horses?
383
00:23:42,588 --> 00:23:45,122
Driss: The first
thing is the head,
384
00:23:45,191 --> 00:23:47,724
So the head is a convex profile
385
00:23:47,727 --> 00:23:49,259
Willekes:
The head comes out?
386
00:23:49,262 --> 00:23:51,328
Driss: Yeah,
and the eye is like
387
00:23:51,397 --> 00:23:55,466
An almond, with this
neck which is large
388
00:23:55,468 --> 00:24:00,404
And is very strong, they
can pull the chariots.
389
00:24:00,406 --> 00:24:04,041
And they have a very
strong hoof too.
390
00:24:06,812 --> 00:24:08,813
Narrator: But the supply
of berber horses was
391
00:24:08,881 --> 00:24:13,684
Only one part of the equation,
like indy car or formula 1,
392
00:24:13,686 --> 00:24:18,422
Behind the charioteer were
the all powerful factions.
393
00:24:18,424 --> 00:24:22,226
Huge teams that approached
racing like a business.
394
00:24:22,294 --> 00:24:23,828
Willekes: The anatomy of a
stable or the idea of
395
00:24:23,896 --> 00:24:27,431
The horse world in
antiquity, getting a horse
396
00:24:27,433 --> 00:24:30,701
To the racetrack, this
is where it started.
397
00:24:30,703 --> 00:24:33,504
You have the whole faction's
stable which is just
398
00:24:33,506 --> 00:24:36,640
An incredible beehive of
workers, you have the stable
399
00:24:36,709 --> 00:24:39,109
Managers who are in charge of
the whole operation, you have
400
00:24:39,178 --> 00:24:42,913
Their assistants, you have
the trainers, you have grooms
401
00:24:42,915 --> 00:24:44,782
Working with the horses,
you have veterinarians
402
00:24:44,850 --> 00:24:47,117
And doctors, you have the
chariot makers, the harness
403
00:24:47,186 --> 00:24:50,120
Makers, the blacksmiths,
the senior charioteers
404
00:24:50,122 --> 00:24:53,324
And the junior charioteers,
apprentices, all working
405
00:24:53,392 --> 00:24:55,459
Together in this environment
to try and produce
406
00:24:55,461 --> 00:24:59,330
The race horses, so it's this
huge industry just to get
407
00:24:59,398 --> 00:25:04,235
One team of horses from
basically birth to the circus.
408
00:25:08,274 --> 00:25:10,474
Narrator: For scorpus
to realize his ambition
409
00:25:10,543 --> 00:25:13,878
To become a charioteer he
would need expert guidance
410
00:25:13,946 --> 00:25:17,481
And only one kind of
man could provide it.
411
00:25:17,483 --> 00:25:19,216
A former charioteer.
412
00:25:21,287 --> 00:25:23,554
Drivers who survived
until retirement
413
00:25:23,622 --> 00:25:25,956
Age might have a second
career overseeing
414
00:25:26,025 --> 00:25:28,859
Younger charioteers
within a faction.
415
00:25:31,363 --> 00:25:33,764
Bell: One charioteer who
survived till retirement
416
00:25:33,832 --> 00:25:36,467
Age after 1000
wins was communis.
417
00:25:38,037 --> 00:25:40,103
Even though communis
had won enough money
418
00:25:40,106 --> 00:25:43,173
To buy his freedom and
retire, he still stayed
419
00:25:43,242 --> 00:25:45,509
In the industry
of chariot racing,
420
00:25:45,578 --> 00:25:47,545
Presumably because
it was in his blood.
421
00:25:49,782 --> 00:25:52,383
Toner: Most charioteers
started racing quite young
422
00:25:52,451 --> 00:25:54,718
When they were probably
in their late teens,
423
00:25:54,720 --> 00:25:57,187
So if they survived for 10
years they were probably
424
00:25:57,256 --> 00:26:00,257
Doing quite well so most
trainers would probably be
425
00:26:00,326 --> 00:26:05,262
Retired charioteers in their
late 20s in their 30s perhaps
426
00:26:05,264 --> 00:26:09,667
Their 40s but hugely experienced
in the whole industry
427
00:26:13,205 --> 00:26:15,606
Narrator: By his
late teens scorpus was
428
00:26:15,608 --> 00:26:19,076
A promising driver, ready to
rest his skills and courage
429
00:26:19,078 --> 00:26:23,480
In the ancient roman equivalent
of the minor leagues.
430
00:26:23,482 --> 00:26:28,419
Races in the outer edges of
empire, from africa to judaea.
431
00:26:29,288 --> 00:26:31,555
The stakes could not be higher.
432
00:26:31,624 --> 00:26:34,224
He could die a forgotten
rookie, or win the chance
433
00:26:34,226 --> 00:26:39,163
For fame, fortune, and freedom
in rome's circus maximus.
434
00:26:42,968 --> 00:26:45,836
On the outskirts of the
roman empire, flavius
435
00:26:45,904 --> 00:26:49,473
Scorpus is starting to make
his name as a chariot racer.
436
00:26:50,509 --> 00:26:54,445
As his reputation gradually
rises, another roman at the
437
00:26:54,513 --> 00:26:56,313
Other end of the
social hierarchy
438
00:26:56,315 --> 00:26:58,849
Is enjoying the high life.
439
00:26:58,851 --> 00:27:02,786
Emperor domitian is the source
of lurid rumors about his
440
00:27:02,788 --> 00:27:06,790
Love life and is busy lavishing
money on rebuilding rome.
441
00:27:08,060 --> 00:27:09,793
At the heart of his
city is the massive
442
00:27:09,862 --> 00:27:14,264
Circus maximus, every
chariot racers dream.
443
00:27:19,005 --> 00:27:22,006
Robert hurford is rebuilding
the chariot of scorpus,
444
00:27:22,074 --> 00:27:25,843
The man who would become
domitian's racing superstar.
445
00:27:27,279 --> 00:27:30,147
Robert is entering
the final stages,
446
00:27:30,215 --> 00:27:33,484
Reconstructing a machine
that can be track tested.
447
00:27:35,688 --> 00:27:37,955
The toy chariot robert
examined in the british
448
00:27:38,023 --> 00:27:42,426
Museum seemed to show rims
on the chariot wheels.
449
00:27:42,428 --> 00:27:47,431
Hurford: In the early iron age,
the invention of a band
450
00:27:47,433 --> 00:27:51,435
Of metal, iron, shrinking
around the wheel
451
00:27:51,503 --> 00:27:55,706
To keep all the joints tight
was a big breakthrough.
452
00:27:59,845 --> 00:28:01,578
Narrator: Roberts
calculations have allowed
453
00:28:01,647 --> 00:28:04,048
A quarter of an inch of
shrinkage once he attaches
454
00:28:04,116 --> 00:28:08,185
The iron tire, too much and
it could come off at high
455
00:28:08,253 --> 00:28:12,690
Speed, too little and the
wheel will be squeezed apart.
456
00:28:13,459 --> 00:28:16,193
Hurford: We've measured the
metal tire, so it's slightly
457
00:28:16,195 --> 00:28:19,062
Smaller than the wheel,
and we put the tire
458
00:28:19,065 --> 00:28:22,599
In the fire to expand
the metal in the heat.
459
00:28:22,668 --> 00:28:26,670
Then we place that tire around
our wheel and cool it down
460
00:28:26,672 --> 00:28:30,274
Quickly and it has compressed
the wheel as it shrinks.
461
00:28:36,415 --> 00:28:40,283
The chariot's going to be
whizzing along on tight bends
462
00:28:40,286 --> 00:28:44,555
So there are forces on the
wheel from all sorts of
463
00:28:44,623 --> 00:28:48,859
Angles and we've squeezed the
joints together with metal.
464
00:28:51,497 --> 00:28:53,497
Narrator: With the
wheel complete robert can
465
00:28:53,565 --> 00:28:56,500
Now turn his attention
to how the chariot will
466
00:28:56,502 --> 00:28:58,669
Support and protect its driver.
467
00:28:59,905 --> 00:29:02,239
Hurford: This is half
a cow's hide.
468
00:29:02,241 --> 00:29:07,244
This point if you
dry it, it becomes hard
469
00:29:07,312 --> 00:29:11,115
And then shrinks quite a
bit and those two properties
470
00:29:11,183 --> 00:29:14,852
Are what make it useful
for us at this stage
471
00:29:16,188 --> 00:29:18,455
Narrator: With a leather
hide wrapped around the frame
472
00:29:18,457 --> 00:29:22,893
For some driver protection all
that's left are the wheels.
473
00:29:31,470 --> 00:29:36,072
The chariot's complete, ready
for mike loades to drive.
474
00:29:36,075 --> 00:29:38,275
But with such a lightweight
design and a floor made
475
00:29:38,343 --> 00:29:41,678
Of just woven leather
strands, how could scorpus
476
00:29:41,747 --> 00:29:44,881
Have survived in
such a tiny vehicle
477
00:29:44,884 --> 00:29:47,551
And gone on to win
over 2,000 races?
478
00:29:48,487 --> 00:29:52,222
Loades: This is the sports car
I've always dreamed of.
479
00:29:52,224 --> 00:29:55,259
This is a sleek racing machine.
480
00:29:57,897 --> 00:29:58,962
I want to get in it.
481
00:30:00,032 --> 00:30:02,299
And suddenly now
inhabiting the space
482
00:30:02,301 --> 00:30:05,302
It's already starting
to tell me things.
483
00:30:05,370 --> 00:30:08,939
Up here without any protection,
that's really roman.
484
00:30:10,776 --> 00:30:13,043
When I saw it schematically,
I thought oh well
485
00:30:13,111 --> 00:30:15,112
You've got to be in and
I'll rest against this
486
00:30:15,180 --> 00:30:18,448
Front rail, that's all
wasted space behind.
487
00:30:18,450 --> 00:30:22,085
Nobody wastes anything
on a design like this.
488
00:30:23,122 --> 00:30:24,922
When I think of the
mosaics and the art
489
00:30:24,990 --> 00:30:27,858
And actually you tend
to see them back here,
490
00:30:27,860 --> 00:30:30,327
Look at where the axle
is beneath my feet.
491
00:30:30,395 --> 00:30:32,929
If I'm back here then I'm
going to be lifting that weight
492
00:30:32,932 --> 00:30:37,301
Off the horses necks almost
like letting the break off.
493
00:30:44,276 --> 00:30:47,411
So we've got this wonderful
chariot and now we've put the
494
00:30:47,479 --> 00:30:52,282
Engine in and as you can see
it's a big powerful engine.
495
00:30:52,284 --> 00:30:54,218
Narrator: Mike has
decided to make the test
496
00:30:54,286 --> 00:30:57,087
As authentic as possible
so along with his
497
00:30:57,089 --> 00:31:00,023
Genuine chariot, he's
using a roman harnessing
498
00:31:00,025 --> 00:31:04,261
System too, it's completely
different from a modern one.
499
00:31:05,964 --> 00:31:08,899
Loades: The way a regular
horse and carriage works
500
00:31:08,967 --> 00:31:10,901
Is you've either got the
horse between two wooden
501
00:31:10,903 --> 00:31:14,171
Shafts that come down here
either side of the horse,
502
00:31:14,239 --> 00:31:17,374
Or you've got a horse collar
or breast harness which
503
00:31:17,442 --> 00:31:21,311
Attach to the chariot with
a strap called a trace,
504
00:31:21,313 --> 00:31:25,582
The trouble is, the roman's
early chariot cultures did not
505
00:31:25,651 --> 00:31:29,920
Have these straps, the real
challenge of driving with this
506
00:31:29,988 --> 00:31:34,057
Yolk and pole system is to
keep your horses parallel.
507
00:31:35,127 --> 00:31:36,860
Narrator: With the
components assembled all that
508
00:31:36,929 --> 00:31:41,265
Remains now is to put this
racing machine to the test.
509
00:31:41,333 --> 00:31:43,867
Loades: It's a bit like
getting into a new car.
510
00:31:43,869 --> 00:31:46,203
Always exciting
going to see how it's
511
00:31:46,271 --> 00:31:50,274
Going to perform,
lets give it a go.
512
00:31:50,342 --> 00:31:51,475
Alright lads, walk on.
513
00:31:55,213 --> 00:31:56,780
Here we go, good lads, trot
on, trot, trot trot, good lads.
514
00:32:03,088 --> 00:32:05,689
Even at the walk
I can feel shock
515
00:32:05,757 --> 00:32:07,090
Waves going through my knees.
516
00:32:11,496 --> 00:32:13,964
Those little wheels
give me a low center
517
00:32:14,032 --> 00:32:16,033
Of gravity but I feel
secure by putting my
518
00:32:16,101 --> 00:32:18,835
Feet out the sides
there, I'm wedged in.
519
00:32:21,173 --> 00:32:25,308
And we're going round the bend
now and you can really feel
520
00:32:25,311 --> 00:32:29,513
Those forces, I'm having to
lean into that and the horses
521
00:32:29,581 --> 00:32:32,182
Are staying together round
the bend, this is terrific.
522
00:32:34,853 --> 00:32:39,890
Woah, good lads.
523
00:32:40,526 --> 00:32:44,461
Well that was thrilling I
mean to drive two magnificent
524
00:32:44,529 --> 00:32:49,466
Horses like that at speed
without traces and I can't tell
525
00:32:49,534 --> 00:32:53,670
You how significant that
without traces is, they've been
526
00:32:53,672 --> 00:32:57,741
Trained, they stayed together,
they stayed parallel.
527
00:32:57,743 --> 00:33:01,011
I found it great standing at
the back of the chariot here.
528
00:33:01,079 --> 00:33:03,680
Just behind the axle there,
so I'm lifting the weight
529
00:33:03,749 --> 00:33:05,949
Of their backs and letting
them use their power
530
00:33:06,018 --> 00:33:08,685
And go on and I found that
my feet were pushing into
531
00:33:08,687 --> 00:33:13,023
The sides of the rail as
it comes down to the floor
532
00:33:13,025 --> 00:33:16,493
And that actually gave me
a good bit of stability,
533
00:33:16,561 --> 00:33:20,230
And I also found myself
really leaning back on them,
534
00:33:20,232 --> 00:33:23,633
Just like we see in
some of the mosaics.
535
00:33:23,635 --> 00:33:26,103
When you build it as it
was built, and use it
536
00:33:26,171 --> 00:33:31,107
As it was used, it starts to
tell you things and it starts
537
00:33:31,110 --> 00:33:36,046
To confirm all the clues
that you can see in the art.
538
00:33:36,515 --> 00:33:39,182
Narrator: By his late
teens scorpus was making
539
00:33:39,251 --> 00:33:42,119
A name for himself racing
two horse chariots.
540
00:33:43,122 --> 00:33:45,522
But to make the leap to
stardom, he would have
541
00:33:45,524 --> 00:33:48,792
To master four horse
racing, and risk his life
542
00:33:48,860 --> 00:33:51,161
On the greatest stage
of the ancient world.
543
00:33:54,199 --> 00:33:57,333
Flavius scorpus had
grown up a slave,
544
00:33:57,336 --> 00:33:59,936
But now he was
learning his trade in
545
00:33:59,938 --> 00:34:03,073
The most dangerous races
in the roman world.
546
00:34:03,075 --> 00:34:05,208
Thousands of slaves
tried to make it
547
00:34:05,210 --> 00:34:08,745
And hundreds died
in the process.
548
00:34:08,814 --> 00:34:12,682
Thrown from their machines,
tangled in their reins,
549
00:34:12,751 --> 00:34:15,318
Trampled by horses,
550
00:34:16,488 --> 00:34:21,458
Killed in the pile ups that
romans called shipwrecks.
551
00:34:23,695 --> 00:34:25,695
But an ambitious
slave like scorpus
552
00:34:25,764 --> 00:34:28,031
Had to do more than survive.
553
00:34:28,033 --> 00:34:31,935
He needed to win, and to
do it with four horses.
554
00:34:33,038 --> 00:34:35,905
Loades: Romans certainly had
two horse chariot races,
555
00:34:35,908 --> 00:34:37,374
But they were junior league.
556
00:34:37,442 --> 00:34:40,310
The real grand prix was
the four horse race.
557
00:34:40,312 --> 00:34:42,912
This is still the engine
they're being pulled by the yoke
558
00:34:42,915 --> 00:34:47,184
Because the outside horses
are only being attached at the
559
00:34:47,252 --> 00:34:51,521
Head, they are not pulling
the chariot at all and that is
560
00:34:51,523 --> 00:34:56,460
Going to make the driving of
them very, very challenging.
561
00:34:56,862 --> 00:34:58,795
So many bits of leather.
562
00:35:03,402 --> 00:35:07,070
I have driven four
horses before, but that's
563
00:35:07,072 --> 00:35:09,673
When they're two in front
of the other in sort
564
00:35:09,741 --> 00:35:13,243
Of very polite single
file for carriage driving.
565
00:35:15,881 --> 00:35:18,715
This is a completely
different sensation.
566
00:35:22,154 --> 00:35:25,288
Those outside horses,
there is no attachment to
567
00:35:25,290 --> 00:35:28,892
The chariot at all so
trying to keep them all
568
00:35:28,894 --> 00:35:32,028
Straight is really challenging,
especially on the bends.
569
00:35:35,634 --> 00:35:37,634
Narrator: The question
mike wants to answer
570
00:35:37,702 --> 00:35:41,438
Is why the romans went to
the expense and difficulty
571
00:35:41,506 --> 00:35:44,441
Of racing four
horses, was it faster,
572
00:35:44,509 --> 00:35:48,078
More spectacular or
just more challenging?
573
00:35:49,714 --> 00:35:51,915
Loades: Whoa, easy now, whoa.
574
00:35:53,852 --> 00:35:57,454
Wow, that was quite the
experience, I have never done
575
00:35:57,522 --> 00:36:00,390
Anything with horses
quite like that before.
576
00:36:00,392 --> 00:36:02,792
There are so many bits
of leather, you have
577
00:36:02,861 --> 00:36:05,729
To keep this one short so
he's turning round like
578
00:36:05,797 --> 00:36:07,464
That and let this one
out so he's going round
579
00:36:07,532 --> 00:36:09,866
The outside, and make sure
you're not ignoring the middle
580
00:36:09,935 --> 00:36:11,868
Two who are the engine
doing all the pulling.
581
00:36:11,937 --> 00:36:13,336
So many things.
582
00:36:13,405 --> 00:36:15,805
My little brain talking
to those four brains
583
00:36:15,807 --> 00:36:20,710
And negotiating the track it's
really, really challenging.
584
00:36:21,213 --> 00:36:23,279
Narrator: Controlling
four horses instead
585
00:36:23,282 --> 00:36:27,217
Of two is without doubt
much harder but it's also
586
00:36:27,219 --> 00:36:30,754
Clear that the two outside
horses provide no direct
587
00:36:30,822 --> 00:36:33,456
Pulling power, so
why were they added?
588
00:36:34,693 --> 00:36:37,627
To answer that question,
mike's going to reconstruct
589
00:36:37,696 --> 00:36:40,830
The path scorpius took
from two to four horses,
590
00:36:40,899 --> 00:36:43,233
Starting with a speed trial.
591
00:36:43,301 --> 00:36:45,368
Loades: When we think of the
roman circus it conjures
592
00:36:45,437 --> 00:36:48,572
Up images of a circus
ring and chariots just
593
00:36:48,640 --> 00:36:51,641
Going round and round in
a circles, but of course
594
00:36:51,643 --> 00:36:54,244
The romans wouldn't have
anything quite so dull.
595
00:36:54,312 --> 00:36:58,715
What they did was they put a
barrier up the center, it was
596
00:36:58,783 --> 00:37:02,652
Called a spina so a spine, right
up the center of the track.
597
00:37:04,856 --> 00:37:07,791
So what you had, you had
broad straights where
598
00:37:07,859 --> 00:37:11,228
A mass of chariots would
come hurtling down.
599
00:37:13,064 --> 00:37:17,000
Then they would come to
this sharp, hairpin bend,
600
00:37:17,002 --> 00:37:19,936
They had to swing
and slew round here.
601
00:37:20,005 --> 00:37:23,072
This is where most of the
accidents would happen,
602
00:37:23,075 --> 00:37:27,277
This is where men and horses
were injured and killed,
603
00:37:27,345 --> 00:37:30,213
This was the danger zone
and then they come out
604
00:37:30,282 --> 00:37:33,616
Of here and made a mad
dash up to the other end.
605
00:37:33,619 --> 00:37:37,687
It was the spina that
gave the roman circus
606
00:37:37,689 --> 00:37:41,024
Its theater, its spectacle,
and it's jeopardy.
607
00:37:44,963 --> 00:37:49,299
So, the big question is why
four horses and not two.
608
00:37:49,301 --> 00:37:52,502
The only way to find out
is to do a time trial,
609
00:37:52,504 --> 00:37:54,838
So here comes the
two horse chariot.
610
00:37:54,906 --> 00:37:57,440
And I'm going to give him a, go!
611
00:37:58,376 --> 00:38:00,844
Narrator: 21st century
charioteer ben tries
612
00:38:00,912 --> 00:38:04,180
To get around two laps
as fast as he can.
613
00:38:04,182 --> 00:38:06,049
Loades: They are a sprightly
pair aren't they,
614
00:38:06,117 --> 00:38:07,317
Look at that corner.
615
00:38:07,385 --> 00:38:09,585
Terrific how he can
get around the corner
616
00:38:09,588 --> 00:38:12,722
With two horses, I wonder
if four can do that.
617
00:38:13,859 --> 00:38:16,659
Really tight round
the hairpin bend,
618
00:38:16,662 --> 00:38:19,595
That was just under 20
seconds at the first turn
619
00:38:19,598 --> 00:38:22,599
And here he goes around
the top corner again,
620
00:38:22,667 --> 00:38:25,735
Hurtling around there, they
come charging down that
621
00:38:25,804 --> 00:38:28,038
Back straight, here they
come, here they come,
622
00:38:30,342 --> 00:38:35,412
And it's 35 seconds and a
nudge, that's pretty quick,
623
00:38:35,480 --> 00:38:38,414
That's going to be something
for a four horse chariot
624
00:38:38,417 --> 00:38:40,650
To match that but let's see.
625
00:38:44,423 --> 00:38:45,288
Go!
626
00:38:46,291 --> 00:38:46,556
Narrator: Now
there are four beasts
627
00:38:47,492 --> 00:38:49,559
And 16 plunging
hooves to control.
628
00:38:49,627 --> 00:38:50,927
Loades: He's really
pushing them on.
629
00:38:52,364 --> 00:38:55,031
He has to slow for the corner
to bring those four horses
630
00:38:55,100 --> 00:38:58,434
Around the corner, coming down
the straight, watch, he belts
631
00:38:58,437 --> 00:39:03,373
Down the straight but he'll
have to collect them here.
632
00:39:03,375 --> 00:39:05,175
Yeah slowing, slowing.
633
00:39:06,311 --> 00:39:08,611
21 seconds on the first round.
634
00:39:09,981 --> 00:39:14,017
Looks fast but he's
slowed them, 26.
635
00:39:20,258 --> 00:39:25,261
That was 42 seconds and it's
telling us this is not only
636
00:39:25,597 --> 00:39:29,465
No faster, it's a
tiny bit slower than
637
00:39:29,468 --> 00:39:31,534
The two horse chariot.
638
00:39:31,603 --> 00:39:34,204
Narrator: So the time
trial is fairly conclusive,
639
00:39:34,272 --> 00:39:36,940
Two horses are faster than four.
640
00:39:37,008 --> 00:39:41,544
So perhaps pure speed was not
what the fans craved most.
641
00:39:41,613 --> 00:39:44,080
Loades: The question remains,
why four horses,
642
00:39:44,149 --> 00:39:45,882
It's not as fast as two.
643
00:39:45,950 --> 00:39:48,351
It's certainly no
faster than two.
644
00:39:48,420 --> 00:39:51,287
It's harder to drive,
so why did they do four?
645
00:39:51,289 --> 00:39:55,125
Well I think that
it's about spectacle.
646
00:39:56,494 --> 00:39:58,828
Narrator: Evidence like
this freize on a roman
647
00:39:58,830 --> 00:40:02,832
Sarcophagus shows that the
racetrack was a crowded place,
648
00:40:02,901 --> 00:40:07,503
With frequent crashes that
the romans called shipwrecks,
649
00:40:07,506 --> 00:40:11,641
Often caused as chariots
piled into each other.
650
00:40:13,311 --> 00:40:16,379
Loades: It becomes an obstacle
course, because everywhere
651
00:40:16,448 --> 00:40:19,783
Are dotted these shipwrecks
as they call them.
652
00:40:19,851 --> 00:40:22,786
These crashes and you
have to negotiate and get
653
00:40:22,854 --> 00:40:25,188
Around them, you have
to race towards them
654
00:40:25,256 --> 00:40:28,591
And if you've got four horses
you're commanding more ground.
655
00:40:31,329 --> 00:40:34,731
The circus maximus was a
theater, it was sporting
656
00:40:34,799 --> 00:40:38,668
Entertainment and it
delivered a spectacle
657
00:40:38,736 --> 00:40:46,376
In three ways, majesty,
supremacy, and jeopardy.
658
00:40:50,882 --> 00:40:53,082
Narrator: Scorpus'
growing talent with four
659
00:40:53,151 --> 00:40:56,619
Horse racing would have taken
him across the roman world.
660
00:40:58,290 --> 00:41:00,490
The teams, or
factions, would show up
661
00:41:00,558 --> 00:41:03,626
At regional race tracks
like this, caesarea
662
00:41:03,628 --> 00:41:06,863
In the roman province of
judaea in modern day israel.
663
00:41:08,833 --> 00:41:11,701
It's a magnificent
circuit, a slightly scaled
664
00:41:11,703 --> 00:41:14,504
Down version of
rome's circus maximus.
665
00:41:15,640 --> 00:41:17,974
It was at places like this that
666
00:41:18,042 --> 00:41:21,144
Scorpus won his racing stripes.
667
00:41:24,850 --> 00:41:27,517
We know that he spent much or
all of his career racing for
668
00:41:27,519 --> 00:41:31,387
The green faction, drivers
were decked out in the bright
669
00:41:31,456 --> 00:41:36,359
Colors of their factions,
green, white, red and blue.
670
00:41:45,737 --> 00:41:48,505
♪
671
00:42:06,824 --> 00:42:09,425
Toner: The races would have
been hugely competitive.
672
00:42:09,494 --> 00:42:12,695
Very violent, lots of
jostling for position
673
00:42:12,764 --> 00:42:16,165
And the charioteers
would often cheat.
674
00:42:16,234 --> 00:42:18,835
♪
675
00:42:22,240 --> 00:42:24,507
All of which was trying
to make the opponents
676
00:42:24,509 --> 00:42:26,976
Lose control of their
horses and of getting
677
00:42:27,045 --> 00:42:29,779
Themselves into a better
tactical position.
678
00:42:32,850 --> 00:42:35,251
Narrator: Over and over
again, race after race,
679
00:42:35,253 --> 00:42:40,156
Scorpus will test his mettle,
risk his life, and win.
680
00:42:43,528 --> 00:42:46,662
But he's still a slave.
681
00:42:46,665 --> 00:42:49,332
He already knows that
the life of the average
682
00:42:49,400 --> 00:42:52,335
Charioteer is short
and frequently deadly.
683
00:42:53,338 --> 00:42:54,937
Scorpus must have
already seen many
684
00:42:54,940 --> 00:42:58,741
Of his friends and rivals
killed on the track,
685
00:42:58,810 --> 00:43:01,811
A brief cremation and
then racing resumed.
686
00:43:09,420 --> 00:43:13,890
To realize his ambitions
scorpus now has only one option.
687
00:43:14,826 --> 00:43:18,694
He must travel to rome and get
ready to race on the greatest
688
00:43:18,697 --> 00:43:23,633
Stage in the entire empire,
the mighty circus maximus.
689
00:43:25,503 --> 00:43:28,838
In the next episode, scorpus
gets a chance to pit himself
690
00:43:28,906 --> 00:43:32,976
Against the best charioteers
from across the empire.
691
00:43:33,044 --> 00:43:35,111
But to succeed he
must win the support
692
00:43:35,113 --> 00:43:39,048
Of the emperor domitian
who controls the races,
693
00:43:39,117 --> 00:43:42,385
He must out muscle vicious
competition on the track,
694
00:43:42,453 --> 00:43:47,190
Become the hero of over
150,000 screaming fans,
695
00:43:47,258 --> 00:43:49,592
And defy an entire
industry built
696
00:43:49,661 --> 00:43:51,761
On superstition and dark magic.
697
00:43:52,930 --> 00:43:57,867
All in the greatest sporting
arena the world has ever seen.
65111
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