Although Roman chariot racing is known to have been one of the most popular types of Roman sporting spectacle, the real circumstances of its protagonists remain unclear in many respects. Charioteers (agitatores, aurigae) represented a complex and multifaceted social phenomenon in the socio-economic context of the Roman Empire. Based on se-lected written sources and epigraphic monuments, this article discusses their personal legal status and the related problem of infamy (infamia) and highlights the multifaceted ambivalence that characterised their social position. A more detailed analysis of literary sources from the imperial period reveals that the attitude of the Roman upper classes towards charioteers was not as uniform as it seems at first glance. Although members of the Roman elite formally advocated contempt, disdain, and discrimination against circus performers, these same individuals regularly attended circus races and even cheered on the charioteers.
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