Three charioteers

These three poems are from the Planudean Appendix of the Greek Anthology. It is often called 'Book Sixteen', but is a modern scholarly compilation. The Byzantine Greeks of Constantinople were as mad on charioteers as the Romans had been before them, and they leave us many epigrams about them.

EPIGRAMS ON THE STELAE OF ATHLETES IN THE HIPPODROME AT CONSTANTINOPLE

335

On Porphyrius

The Emperor and populace erect 

The son of Calchas, our Porphyrius, 

Laden with garlands for his noble toil, 

The youngest of the drivers and the best 

By measure of his many victories. 

He should have had a statue made of gold, 

And not this brass, like all the rest here placed.

383

On Faustinus, of the Green faction

Behold Faustinus, charioteer of old, 

Who, once he found the faction of the Greens, 

Knew nothing of defeat upon the track. 

You see him as he was, an older man, 

But in his strength he was a stripling still, 

And never once was beaten in a race.

386

On Julianus, charioteer of the Reds

The hand has skill to birth the ancient dead 

A second time: for here is Julian 

In all the strength he showed in former age, 

And hauling to and fro the reins of Red. 

He stands now imaged high upon his car; 

His hand awaits the signal to begin: 

He only needs to see the turning-post.