The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1900-02-07
ITHE CHARIOT OF OLD.
GRIM REMINDER OF THE COMBAIS
OF THE HEROIC PERIOD.
i Vehicle Was Used in the Days of An
tiouity for the Battle, the Chase,
and in Professions and Games.

and in Professions and Games.
H. cbariot was used in antiquity
Z tho hattie, the chase, in public pro-
Il sions and in games. 1t had two
',boaIs and was drawn by two horses,
i when one or two horses were add
4 tbpv were attached to each side or
N main pair by a side trace, fastened
4 the front of the chariot.
These cbariots have only come down
II rs in fragments, with the exception
II tbp one in the archaeological muse
n Of Florence, which is a unique ex-
shnIe of a war chariot, the so called
lRiga di Frassino," found by Rosseii-
IN in q Thebes tomb. 1t is certainly
ID old as the fourteenth century b. Z.
y is probably trophy obtained in the
aorth by some Egyptian warrior
There is an entire absence Of metal
81 the construction. Immediately on
ia axle without springs of any kind,
'xkts the basket, or body, of the chart
NJ which consisted Of a floor to stand
81 and a semicircular guard around
ia front and about half the height Of
ia driver. 1t is entirely open at the
1ack. so that the cOmbatants might
en- to the ground and up again, as be-
s4tne necessary by the eXigencies Of
lion. There was no seat, and gener-
nv in war chariots there was only
On for the combatant and his chart
q Der to stand in.
The pole, as in the present instance,
Tas usually attached to the middle of
|he axle although to outward appear
4hees it looked as though it sprang
REpm the front Of the basket. At the
ena of the pole was the yoke, which
ico ked like a rams horns. Depending
rom this by leather thongs was a Y
snaped piece, which probably took
Ilse place of the modern horse collar.
sKpbabIy broad bands were also fitted
lr8und the chest Of the animals.
sSesides the harness of each horse
sSsre were bride and a pair of reins
SSneWhat in the same style as are in
seatthe present day. These were made
4 Feather and were ornamented with
tufs of ivory and metal. The reins
0efe passed through rings attached
& Pie collar and were long enough to
e ped around the waist Of the chariot
81 In case of his having to defend him
ell.
ne wheels and body were usually Of
seed strengthened in places with
'f9Ize or iron. The wheels had from
W. 10 eight spokes, and the tires
e OF bronze or iron lin the present
sssdnce ash was useO, and the pins
81 cn secured the fellies were Of fossil
ms description applied to the chart
N VI Utmost any of the nations Of an
'QpIty, the difference consisting chief
II the mountings. Thus the cbariots
n fne egyptians and Assyrians, with
= - Tie DOW was the principal arm
s. a''ack' were richly mounted with
saFers full Of arrows, while those Of
s.. o'eeAS' who used the spear, were
' s L except as regards mere dpcora.
IL 1he Persians and the ancient
So II uSeu class Of chariots having
"a, "ueeIS mounted with sharp, sickle
al A pea blades, which cut to pieces
.Ssn AVER came in their way. This was
'iS the Invention of the Persians
a1lonas u@e OF the battle chariot really
ssaP e % " the heroic period. The war
81 w. lung Dy the side Of his chariot
npsto S.l u'!Fen in front of the line TO
sS Af tS.Ie warriors to single COM
81 ador 'ue strategic skill Of a COM
I'LL nor,s superseded the demands ON
rss,sforroa aol Valor the chariot was
[I.Ieu from the battlefield to the
orab woI where alone its original
Z Ia ~ preserved The description
oEe 70 aoLnerlc battle chariot. there
be- bistorios IeaI extent also applies to
ia sn, ,I cDariot of the race course.
IN , small diameter of the chariot
oe explained from the de-