Racing

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

Antiquity

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. Throughout Greece, many cities possessed a stadium, a dromos, or a hippodrome to train their athletes.

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.

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. Due to his winning streak, Bayek became a famous chariot racer.

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. In Constantinople, the classical Greek hippodrome was enlarged and improved by Constantine I and remained in use for nearly 800 years.

Middle Ages

Altaïr racing across rooftops

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. Basim won the race, and the Hidden One handed him a bag of marked coins to deliver to a trade delegate as part of a contract Basim had received.

During the Third Crusade, the Levantine Assassin Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad was tasked by his informers to accomplish races in exchange for information about his targets. During some of them, he needed to collect flags or only reach his informants before they left the city.

Renaissance

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.

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, while another was a capture the flag race.

Victorian London

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.

Modern times

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

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed (first appearance)
• Assassin's Creed II
• Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy
• Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
• Assassin's Creed: Syndicate
• Assassin's Creed: Origins
• Assassin's Creed: Odyssey
• Assassin's Creed: Mirage