![chariot races in greece chariot races in greece](https://c8.alamy.com/zooms/9/66630621b71e4f47bf5ce8ad76311479/jr321c.jpg)
The first known reference to the sport was by Homer at a funeral for Patroclus where he claimed they raced only one lap around a tree. The origin of Chariot Racing is an unknown commodity. These factions had an even stronger social and political influence, and in the end, played a role in the demise of its own sport, along with the eventual demise of an empire. These Roman factions transitioned with the sport, which played an important role in the history of Byzantium. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, chariot racing only survived in the east, the Byzantine Empire. Roman and Byzantine emperors eventually took control of these factions and had their officials running them, placing even more importance on the sport. These conflicts were politicized, affecting both society and their respective empire. These factions drew tons of spectator support, which would lead to many conflicts between differing factions. Chariot racing teams, or factions, had a very strong fan base.
CHARIOT RACES IN GREECE DRIVERS
It was an extremely dangerous sport, as drivers frequently suffered gruesome injuries and unfortunate deaths. The sport that started out so simple evolved as it moved from one era to the next, gaining more importance at every advancement. The sport has many claimed origins and thrived during the Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Empires. It was one of the most popular and influential sports in ancient history.
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Chariot racing plays an important role in sports history.