Series synopsis
Rome's Chariot Superstar is an American documentary television series that premiered on Smithsonian Channel on April 21, 2019. It ended on April 28, 2019.
In 90 A.D., ancient Rome played host to a sporting spectacle that attracted crowds three times the size of the Colosseum?s gladiator games: chariot racing. Every week, 150,000 fans packed the massive Circus Maximus, not just to cheer on the speed, fury, and danger of the races, but to witness the champion charioteer, Flavius Scorpus. Examine his improbable rise from young slave to arguably the most successful competitor in the sport?s history.
Premise
In 90 A.D., ancient Rome played host to a sporting spectacle that attracted crowds three times the size of the Colosseum?s gladiator games: chariot racing. Every week, 150,000 fans packed the massive Circus Maximus, not just to cheer on the speed, fury, and danger of the races, but to witness the champion charioteer, Flavius Scorpus. Examine his improbable rise from young slave to arguably the most successful competitor in the sport?s history.
Episodes
This series spans 1 season with 2 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 2 | April 21, 2019 | April 28, 2019 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
April 21, 2019 |
| 2 |
Circus Maximus Chariot racer Flavius Scorpus has won hundreds of races while watching his friends and rivals die on the track. Now, the stakes, and the risks, are about to escalate as the charioteer performs on the greatest racetrack in the Roman Empire: Circus Maximus. Follow Scorpus as he out-muscles vicious competition, earns a fortune, and becomes a hero to hundreds of thousands of adoring fans. Recent excavations and exhilarating recreations bring the races, and the era, vividly back to life. |
April 28, 2019 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | Smithsonian Channel |
|---|---|
| First aired | April 21, 2019 |
| Last aired | April 28, 2019 |
| Runtime | 45 minutes |
| Status | ended |