Porphyrius the Charioteer

Cameron observes a similarity between their iconography and that of the Obelisk of Theodosius plinth, one side of which shows the emperor, surrounded by his court in uniform rows, using the same confronting gesture as Porphyrius, as if to offer the viewer a winner's wreath; the other faces of the Theodosius plinth show ranks of submissive barbarians, vanquished enemies, an illustration of the race itself, and a performance by musicians and dancers.

Porphyrius is the youngest known charioteer to have been honoured with monuments during his lifetime by both the Greens and the Blues - the two major, usually opposed factions - with the emperor's approval.

In a diversium, a winning charioteer won twice over, by driving to victory the horse team of an opponent he had only just defeated; a clear demonstration of the driver's skill.

[9][10] Cameron believes that Porphyrius would have raced at several Eastern provincial capitals and major cities at various times during his career; he names Nicomedia and Berytus as likely venues.

[11] The only evidence for Porphyrius' activities beyond the Constantinople racetrack refers to his leadership of the Greens at Antioch, in 507, and their attack on a synagogue in the suburb of Daphne, in which many Jews were slaughtered.

Cameron allows for the possibility that Porphyrius fought in person for Anastasius, but also underlines Malalas' reputation as an unreliable historian;[2] "a remarkably ill-informed and careless writer.