Detail of one of four portraits in a larger mosaic, each depicting a colored chariot team faction: the Blues, Reds, Whites (here), and Greens. This closeup shows more detail in the costume of the auriga (charioteer) - particularly the scrollwork and striped design on his sleeves. Other charioteers display sun and star signs, flowers, and vegetative scrolls. Each of the charioteers would drive a chariot that was brightly painted in the color of his faction. These auigae may have driven either a biga (two horse team) or a quadriga (four horse team, reserved for more experienced charioteers). The lead horse here seems to have a halter decorated in gold denti di lupo ('wolf's teeth'). Each charioteer - usually freedmen or slaves - carries a whip and wears the typical short tunic and fasciae (tied ropes around the torso, for protection), as well as a helmet, which may have been protective or merely decorative. They also wore leggings, unusual for Romans. The aurigae wrapped the reins of the horses around their waists during a race, and carried a knife to cut themselves free if things went badly wrong (*if* they had time to even react). It was a dangerous sport, but charioteers could become incredibly wealthy and famous, even if the patricians looked down their noses at these athletes, who were associated with slavery. Found in a cubiculum (bedroom) of the Severan villa in Baccano, at the 16th mile of the Via Cassia. The villa supposedly belonged to Publius Septimius Geta, brother to the emperor Septimius Severus. Roman First half of the 3rd century CE