What did charioteers do?

Answer 1

Originally there were two factions (teams) of charioteers (aurigae) who wore red and white respectively. Red was sacred to Mars or summer and white was sacred to the Zephyrs or winter. Later two more factions were created. They wore green and blue respectively. Green was dedicated to Mother Earth or spring and blue was dedicated to the sky and sea or autumn. The emperor Domitian introduced two new factions, the Purples and the Golds, but they were discontinued after his death.

The aurigae wore died tunics. They wound strips of leather or linen around their legs and arms as protection. Tight strips of leather wrapped their torso and were laced up on the chest as protection from the reigns. Four quite heavy reigns were wrapped around the torso, just above the waist. The helmets were made of felt or leather.

Answer 2

Charioteers were loved and admired by their fans, if they were victorious often they developed the same fame and followings that star footballers have now.

However the profession itself was disdained because it was linked very closely to slave status. No one would sacrifice their own status to become a charioteer unless they were already a slave.

Answer 3

A chariot driver.