Relief of a chariot race
- Audio guide stop: 531
- Gallery: Room 69
- Culture: Roman
- Made in: Italy
- Date: 1stC (last third)
- Object type: relief
- Materials: terracotta
- Museum number: 1805,0703.337
- Museum: The British Museum
- Collection record: British Museum website
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
Listen to the free audio guide
About this object
This is the "Relief of a Chariot Race," a Roman terracotta work from the first third of the first century. You’re looking at a dynamic scene of a chariot competition, with a four-horse chariot approaching the turning-post marked by three columns. The charioteer is dressed in a short tunic, leggings, and a cap, with reins tied around his waist. At the base, a fallen charioteer crouches, while another rider gestures toward them—an assistant encouraging the race.
The relief was made in Italy and signed with a Latin inscription: “Anniae Arescusa,” which may name the artist or workshop owner. The piece was acquired by Charles Townley, not through Piranesi but from the sculptor Joseph Nollekens.
Notice the fine details in the terracotta, capturing motion and emotion. This relief gives a rare glimpse into ancient Roman chariot racing, a thrilling sport of the time.
See it in person
Relief of a chariot race is on display in Room 69 at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and type its audio guide stop number, 531, from the gallery label, or take a photo of it, to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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