The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1900-01-25
Ths ch.,,st ~ ond

The ehsfioi sss ussd 10 antlqnily !
, The battle. the eLsse. 10 pablo Trocsssio
snd 10 ssmes, II bsa two wheels Of
wss drawn by tao houses .snJ shea one
tao hoftes ~ere added thsy uere stlsoh'
. 10 esca side Of the msia pair by sls
trace, fastened 10 the iront Of The ehsrta
These etsriots hsve only ooae down
Us 10 irssments. ~iib The exception Of Il
oee 10 he archaeological mnseum
Florence. Which iss npiqne example ot
war chariot, the 90 called "Blss ~ Fra
sino ionnd by B)sse ineo 10 Tbeb,
tomb II 10 certainly as old IS the ior
iespih century b. @. II Is probably
trophy obisined 10 the north by som
Esyp,isn warrior
There Is 80 entire absence OF metal /
the construction, Immediately on th
sile. without springs OF spy kind, res,
tue basket, or body, Of the chariot. vhic
consisted OF noor 10 stand on and zen
circular guard sronnd the iron, snd sbou
bali the height OF the driver L. Is enlir
ly open at the back, SO that the comba
ants might leap 10 the ground aud Of
again. rs became necessary by th,
fIiaenoies OF action, There was TO sea
aud generally 10 war ohariols there wa
only room for the com bslant snd hi,
ohsiioteer to stand in.
The pole, as 10 the present instance, wa,
usually attached to the middle OF he axle
although to outward appearances it locked
as though il sprang iron the front OF The
basket, A. the end Of the pole was the
yoke, which looked like a fam's horus,
Depending ifom this by leather thongs
was Y sbspei piece, which probably
took the place Of the modern horse collar,
Probably broad baLds were also fitted
around the chest OF the animals.
Besides the harness OF each horse there
was bride and pair OF reiDs somewhst
10 the same sty lie rs are in use q, the pre-
sent day. These were made OF leather
and we're ornsmepted with ttods OF ivory
aud mstsl Tbs reins we're passed
through rings attached TO the collar and
we're long enough to be tied around the
waist OF the chsrioteer in case Of bis hsv
ing to defend himself.
The wheels and body were usually OF
wood, strengthened 10 places with brots9
or iron. The wheels had from four to
eight spokes, and the tres we're Of brotzs
or iron (u the present Instance ash was
osed) aud the pins which secured the
fellies were OF foeeil bone.
This de- crip'ion applied to the chsriots
Of almost any OF the items OF Antiquity
The din r.rce consisting chisfly in the
mounlings TITUS the cheriots CT the
Egyptians and Assyrisns. with whom the
bow was the principal aim OF attsck, were
richly mounted With qnivers full Of arrows
While those Of the Gtesks, who used the
'pear, we're plain except as regards m ere
decorations. The Pereians and The
ancient Bfitons used class OF chariots
leving the wheels mounted With sharp,
ickl, shaped blades, which cut to pieces
" bsttyet came 10 their way. This was
probably the invention Of the Persisns.
The use Of the battle chariot really be
ongs to the heroic period. The warrior.
tandinR by the oide Of bis chariotser, |
vas driven In front OF the line to invite
lostile warriors to single combat. After
he strategic skill OF commsuder
uperseded the demands on bis person sl
sor the chariot was transferred from the
to the hippodrome, where alone
is original form was preserved. The dis
rIption OF the Homeric battle chariot,
herefore, 10 great extent also applies to
be historic cbtri Of the race course.
The small diameter OF the chariot
heel may be explained from the desire
! preventing tuo luhtbt bb uttuk Up
osed by the impe iimeuts in tie battle
eld, ss debris or dead bodies. The rim
as usually foimed of ionr iellies, into
hicb the -four spokes we're let. Toe up
er rail which was either wood or metal.
,ried greatly ia form and was Intended
, be eissped by the warrior on I1mpine
D o the chariot, while the front psit
,ived for listening the reins and the
aces Of the wheel bcrses." Ia the
.omsD trinmphsl chariot q covering OF
stheT served 10 ward of missilee, and
tar. on the siies were composed oil
rong boards.
Unfortunately we know very little Of
lie vehicles OF everyday use 10 these days.
hey nearly sll seem to bs a vsrie y OF
hat We now term the "gis".