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In [[Greece|Ancient Greece]], the myth of the [[chariot]] racer [[Pelops]] became the origin of the [[Olympic Games]], where competitors participated in many types of races as running or [[horse]]racing at the [[Sanctuary of Olympia]]. Even if at the beginning, women weren't allowed to participate, the victory of the [[Sparta]]n princess Cynisca in 396 BCE permitted other women to participate at chariot competition. Women also competed in footraces during the [[Heraia]].<ref name="Ancient Greece">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – ''[[Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece]]''</ref><ref name="Elis: Temple of Hera">''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – [[Historical Locations#Elis|Elis: Temple of Hera]]</ref> Throughout Greece, many cities possessed a [[stadium]], a [[dromos]], or a [[hippodrome]] to train their athletes.<ref name="ACOd">''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey''</ref>
In [[Greece|Ancient Greece]], the myth of the [[chariot]] racer [[Pelops]] became the origin of the [[Olympic Games]], where competitors participated in many types of races as running or [[horse]]racing at the [[Sanctuary of Olympia]]. Even if at the beginning, women weren't allowed to participate, the victory of the [[Sparta]]n princess Cynisca in 396 BCE permitted other women to participate at chariot competition. Women also competed in footraces during the [[Heraia]].<ref name="Ancient Greece">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – ''[[Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece]]''</ref><ref name="Elis: Temple of Hera">''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – [[Historical Locations#Elis|Elis: Temple of Hera]]</ref> Throughout Greece, many cities possessed a [[stadium]], a [[dromos]], or a [[hippodrome]] to train their athletes.<ref name="ACOd">''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey''</ref>


Another prominent racing myth was that of [[Atalanta]], the daughter of [[Iasius|King Iasius]] of [[Arkadia]]. According to legend, the beautiful princess refused to marry any suitor who could not beat her in a footrace while the penalty for failure was death. All men who took upon her challenge lost and were executed until a man named Hippomenes finally bested her by distracting her with apples. More than just a myth, this event occurred in the 6th century BCE. Hippomenes was the new name taken by [[Kyros of Zarax]], an Olympic champion, after he had won and yet only by cheating with an [[Apple of Eden]] he had been given by the [[Isu]] [[Aphrodite]].<ref name="Divine Science Kyros of Zarax">''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]'' – [[Divine Science: Chapter 2 – Kyros of Zarax]]</ref>
[[File:PL-FUGUE.jpg|thumb|250px|Kyros racing Atalanta]]
Another prominent racing myth was that of [[Atalanta]], the daughter of [[Iasius|King Iasius]] of [[Arkadia]]. According to legend, the beautiful princess refused to marry any suitor who could not beat her in a footrace while the penalty for failure was death. All men who took upon her challenge lost and were executed until a man named Hippomenes finally bested her by distracting her with apples. More than just a myth, this event occurred in the 6th century BCE. Hippomenes was the new name taken by [[Kyros of Zarax]], an Olympic champion, after he had won, albeit by cheating through the use of an [[Apples of Eden|Apple of Eden]].<ref name="Divine Science Kyros of Zarax">''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]'' – [[Divine Science: Chapter 2 – Kyros of Zarax]]</ref>


The Hellenization of [[Egypt]] by the [[Ptolemaic Kingdom]] led to chariot racing becoming a popular event in [[Alexandria]]'s [[Lageion Hippodrome|hippodrome]]. By 48 BCE, the [[Veneta Blue]] and the [[Prasina Green]] competed to become the best chariot racing team. The [[Medjay]] [[Bayek]] of [[Siwa]] joined the Prasina Green after he quarreled with his old friend [[Claridas]], a member of the Veneta Blue.<ref name="Old Times">''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]'' – [[Old Times]]</ref> Due to his winning streak, Bayek became a famous chariot racer.<ref name="Aya: Blade of the Goddess">''Assassin's Creed: Origins'' – [[Aya: Blade of the Goddess]]</ref>
The Hellenization of [[Egypt]] by the [[Ptolemaic Kingdom]] led to chariot racing becoming a popular event in [[Alexandria]]'s [[Lageion Hippodrome|hippodrome]]. By 48 BCE, the [[Veneta Blue]] and the [[Prasina Green]] competed to become the best chariot racing team. The [[Medjay]] [[Bayek]] of [[Siwa]] joined the Prasina Green after he quarreled with his old friend [[Claridas]], a member of the Veneta Blue.<ref name="Old Times">''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]'' – [[Old Times]]</ref> Due to his winning streak, Bayek eventually became a famous chariot racer.<ref name="Aya: Blade of the Goddess">''Assassin's Creed: Origins'' – [[Aya: Blade of the Goddess]]</ref>


In [[Roman civilization|Ancient Rome]], chariot racing was also a popular activity. [[Circus Maximus]] in [[Rome]] could hold 250,000 people, which was roughly one quarter of the city's population.<ref name="Circo Massimo">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' – [[Database: Circo Massimo]]</ref> In [[Constantinople]], the classical Greek [[Hippodrome of Constantinople|hippodrome]] was enlarged and improved by [[Constantine I]] and remained in use for nearly 800 years.<ref name="Hippodrome">''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'' – [[Database: Hippodrome]]</ref>
In [[Roman civilization|Ancient Rome]], chariot racing was also a popular activity. [[Circus Maximus]] in [[Rome]] could hold 250,000 people, which was roughly one quarter of the city's population.<ref name="Circo Massimo">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' – [[Database: Circo Massimo]]</ref> In [[Constantinople]], the classical Greek [[Hippodrome of Constantinople|hippodrome]] was enlarged and improved by [[Constantine I]] and remained in use for nearly 800 years.<ref name="Hippodrome">''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'' – [[Database: Hippodrome]]</ref>


===Crusades===
===Middle Ages===
During the [[Third Crusade]], the [[Levantine Brotherhood of Assassins|Levantine Assassin]] [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] was tasked by his [[informer]]s to accomplish races in exchange for information about his [[Hunt for the Nine|targets]]. During some of them, he needed to collect [[flag]]s or only reach his informants before they left the city.<ref name="AC1">''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref>
In the 860s, the [[Hidden Ones of Alamut|Alamut Hidden One]] [[Basim ibn Ishaq]] was challenged to a foot race by a fellow Hidden One who wished to prove his superior speed. Unfortunately for the challenger, Basim proved to be the swifter [[Freerunning|freerunner]] of the two and won the race.<ref name="Marked Coins">''[[Assassin's Creed: Mirage]]'' – [[The Marked Coins]]</ref>


===Italian Renaissance===
[[File:Tamir Rooftop Race 2.png|thumb|250px|left|Altaïr racing across rooftops]]
During the 15th and 16th centuries, the [[Thief|Thieves' guilds]] from [[Italy|Italian city-states]] organized races in [[Florence]], [[Venice]], [[Forlì]], [[San Gimignano]] and Rome to test the speed of the competitors. The [[Italian Brotherhood of Assassins|Italian]] [[Master Assassin]] [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]] participated in numerous races, becoming a legend and a role model among the thieves for his speed and agility.<ref name="For the Fans">''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'' – [[For the Fans]]</ref>
During the [[Third Crusade]], the [[Levantine Brotherhood of Assassins|Levantine Assassin]] [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] was tasked by his [[Informer|informants]] to complete short races in exchange for information about his [[Hunt for the Nine|assassination targets]]. During some of these races, Altaïr was tasked to collect [[flag]]s within a given amount of time, while others only required him to reach the informants before they left the city.<ref name="AC1">''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref>


At the 1486 [[Carnevale]] of Venice, a competition of four games was organized for the [[Golden Mask]], which provided entry to the Doge's personal ball. One of the games was a speed race<ref name="And They're Off">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[And They're Off]]</ref> while another was a capture the flag race.<ref name="CTF">''Assassin's Creed II'' – [[CTF]]</ref>
===Renaissance===
During the 15th and 16th centuries, the [[Thief|Thieves' Guilds]] from [[Italy|Italian city-states]] organized races in [[Florence]], [[Venice]], [[Forlì]], [[San Gimignano]], and Rome to test the speed of the competitors. The [[Italian Brotherhood of Assassins|Italian]] [[Master Assassin]] [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]] participated in numerous races, becoming a legend and a role model among the thieves for his speed and agility.<ref name="For the Fans">''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'' – [[For the Fans]]</ref>
 
At the 1486 [[Carnevale]] of Venice, a competition of four games was organized for the [[Golden Mask]], which provided entry to the Doge's personal ball. One of the games was a speed race,<ref name="And They're Off">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[And They're Off]]</ref> while another was a capture the flag race.<ref name="CTF">''Assassin's Creed II'' – [[CTF]]</ref>


===Victorian London===
===Victorian London===
[[File:ACS Promotional Screenshot 1.jpg|thumb|250px|Jacob competing in a carriage race]]
By 1868, the bookie [[Robert Topping]] organized illegal street racing events, principally carriage racing, in [[London]]. The twin [[British Brotherhood of Assassins|British Assassins]] [[Evie Frye|Evie]] and [[Jacob Frye]] regularly participated in his racing competitions, becoming the champions of London.<ref name="ACS">''[[Assassin's Creed: Syndicate]]''</ref>
By 1868, the bookie [[Robert Topping]] organized illegal street racing events, principally carriage racing, in [[London]]. The twin [[British Brotherhood of Assassins|British Assassins]] [[Evie Frye|Evie]] and [[Jacob Frye]] regularly participated in his racing competitions, becoming the champions of London.<ref name="ACS">''[[Assassin's Creed: Syndicate]]''</ref>


===Modern Times===
===Modern times===
During his time in the [[Animus]], the [[Assassins|Assassin]] [[Desmond Miles]] trained himself in race simulations to develop his skills through the [[Bleeding Effect]].<ref name="ACB">''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood''</ref>
During his time in the [[Animus]], the [[Assassins|Assassin]] [[Desmond Miles]] trained himself in race simulations to develop his skills through the [[Bleeding Effect]].<ref name="ACB">''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood''</ref>


==Appearances==
==Appearances==
*''[[Assassin's Creed]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]''
Line 35: Line 40:
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Mirage]]''


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 01:12, 25 May 2026

Panathenaic amphora depicting runners / 366-365 BCE (Classical Greece)

Racing is the activity of engaging in a competition of speed, which in turn is called a race. The competitors in a race try to complete a given task in the shortest amount of time. Typically this involves traversing some distance, but it can be any other task involving speed to reach a specific goal. Throughout history, many cultures used racing as a way of training, entertainment, or sports competitions.

History[edit | edit source]

Antiquity[edit | edit source]

In Ancient Greece, the myth of the chariot racer Pelops became the origin of the Olympic Games, where competitors participated in many types of races as running or horseracing at the Sanctuary of Olympia. Even if at the beginning, women weren't allowed to participate, the victory of the Spartan princess Cynisca in 396 BCE permitted other women to participate at chariot competition. Women also competed in footraces during the Heraia.[1][2] Throughout Greece, many cities possessed a stadium, a dromos, or a hippodrome to train their athletes.[3]

Kyros racing Atalanta

Another prominent racing myth was that of Atalanta, the daughter of King Iasius of Arkadia. According to legend, the beautiful princess refused to marry any suitor who could not beat her in a footrace while the penalty for failure was death. All men who took upon her challenge lost and were executed until a man named Hippomenes finally bested her by distracting her with apples. More than just a myth, this event occurred in the 6th century BCE. Hippomenes was the new name taken by Kyros of Zarax, an Olympic champion, after he had won, albeit by cheating through the use of an Apple of Eden.[4]

The Hellenization of Egypt by the Ptolemaic Kingdom led to chariot racing becoming a popular event in Alexandria's hippodrome. By 48 BCE, the Veneta Blue and the Prasina Green competed to become the best chariot racing team. The Medjay Bayek of Siwa joined the Prasina Green after he quarreled with his old friend Claridas, a member of the Veneta Blue.[5] Due to his winning streak, Bayek eventually became a famous chariot racer.[6]

In Ancient Rome, chariot racing was also a popular activity. Circus Maximus in Rome could hold 250,000 people, which was roughly one quarter of the city's population.[7] In Constantinople, the classical Greek hippodrome was enlarged and improved by Constantine I and remained in use for nearly 800 years.[8]

Middle Ages[edit | edit source]

In the 860s, the Alamut Hidden One Basim ibn Ishaq was challenged to a foot race by a fellow Hidden One who wished to prove his superior speed. Unfortunately for the challenger, Basim proved to be the swifter freerunner of the two and won the race.[9]

Altaïr racing across rooftops

During the Third Crusade, the Levantine Assassin Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad was tasked by his informants to complete short races in exchange for information about his assassination targets. During some of these races, Altaïr was tasked to collect flags within a given amount of time, while others only required him to reach the informants before they left the city.[10]

Renaissance[edit | edit source]

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the Thieves' Guilds from Italian city-states organized races in Florence, Venice, Forlì, San Gimignano, and Rome to test the speed of the competitors. The Italian Master Assassin Ezio Auditore da Firenze participated in numerous races, becoming a legend and a role model among the thieves for his speed and agility.[11]

At the 1486 Carnevale of Venice, a competition of four games was organized for the Golden Mask, which provided entry to the Doge's personal ball. One of the games was a speed race,[12] while another was a capture the flag race.[13]

Victorian London[edit | edit source]

Jacob competing in a carriage race

By 1868, the bookie Robert Topping organized illegal street racing events, principally carriage racing, in London. The twin British Assassins Evie and Jacob Frye regularly participated in his racing competitions, becoming the champions of London.[14]

Modern times[edit | edit source]

During his time in the Animus, the Assassin Desmond Miles trained himself in race simulations to develop his skills through the Bleeding Effect.[15]

Appearances[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]