Nero, solar auriga

Abstract

We analyze Nero´s trajectory as a charioteer. This activity was badly considered for being related to 'infamous people', but Nero defended his hobby by arguing that the ancient tradition of car driving was typical of kings and heroes. His interest came from family tradition, since some Ahenobarbi had practiced the driving of cars. Nero trained for this sport and performed in circus as a charioteer. At first he did it privately until 64 A.D., when he started to participate in public shows. In his role of horse carriages driver, he ended up identifying himself with Phoebus, the Sun, and was represented in coins and sculptures with the radiated crown. This innovation was successful and the headdress remained in monetary images of the emperors until the Late Empire.