Roman Vehicles

  • Roman Vehicles consisted of various types of wheeled carriages, carts and chariots pulled by horses, mules or oxen.
  • The main long distance four wheeled carriage was the Raeda and the main two wheeled Cart was the Essedum used by the wealthy and the Roman Post Stations. In the streets of Rome, people were carried around in sedan chairs called a Lectica.

Types of Roman Carriage

    • Biga

      • A two Horse carriage.

    • Triga

      • A three Horse Carriage.

    • Quadriga

      • A four horse Carriage with the horses abreast, as used in chariot races.

Four wheeled Roman Carriages and Chariots

    • Arcera

      • A basic four wheeled covered carriage with wooden sides and curtains and no seats, used as an ambulance.

    •  Benna

      • A Four wheeled carriage made of wickerwork and pulled by two horses.

    • Carruca

      • The word Carriage comes from Carruca
      • This was a four wheeled covered vehicle, with the front wheels smaller than the rear wheels, pulled by two or four horses, or mules.
      • It was built to convey large Groups.

    • Raeda

      • Similar to the Carruca, this was the main long distance four wheeled carriage for large families or the public transport of groups of travelers with their luggage.

    • The Emperor’s Carriage

      • This would have been a highly ornamented version of the Carruca, decorated with Gold and Jewels and probably pulled by four horses.
      • Suetonius states that Nero took one thousand carriages with him on his trips abroad, probably the baggage train.

    • Tensa

      • A sacred vehicle for carrying the statues of the Gods. It was decorated in ivory and silver with two or four wheels pulled by four horses (or elephants). It was also used in the Circus during Games.

Two Wheeled Roman Carriages and Chariots

    • Arcima

      • A two wheeled flat cart with no car, pulled by one horse

    • Carrus

      • The word Chariot comes from Carrus. It was a two wheeled boarded cart used mainly by armies for baggage transport.

    • Car

      • A War Chariot or Triumphal Chariot which had two wheels.

    • Carpentum

      • A light two wheeled chariot, sometimes covered, and pulled by two horses.
      • If it had four horses, all four were yoked abreast, not in pairs behind each other as we do today.

    • Cisium

      • From Gaul, this was a fast, light, two wheeled open carriage seating two persons, with baggage being placed under the seat, and pulled by two horses.

    • Essedum

      • Two wheeled carriage copied from the War Carriage of the Belgae (Northern Gallic Tribe, possibly Germanic, considered different from the Belgae amongst whom they lived)

    • Pilentum

      • A small two wheel roofed but open vehicle with seats and cushions, used by Roman women and the Vestal Virgins on ceremonial occasion.

    • Sirpea

      • A lightweight Osier Wicker basket body with two wheels. Copied from the Gauls who used it in peacetime and in battle, and called it the Henna.

Roman Farm Vehicles

    • Clabularus

      • An open four wheeled cart for carrying hay and corn, pulled by two horses or oxen

    • Plaustrum

      • A heavy goods cart pulled by mules or oxen. There were three types, four wheeled, two wheeled and a smaller two wheeled version for light loads.

    • Sarracum

      • A Farmer’s two wheeled cart for transporting people

The Sedan Chair

    • Basterna

      • A wheelless vehicle used by Roman Women, which was supported by one mule in front and one mule behind attached by separate pairs of shafts.

    • Lectica or Sella

      • The Lectica was a portable Roman Litter, rather like a four poster bed on poles with an awning, which included a mattress and pillows, and some had curtains that could be drawn all around to conceal the occupant.
      • It was popular in Rome amongst the upper classes and the Emperor’s Family, who were transported about the streets of Rome by four slaves or servants.

Roman Vehicle Suspension

    • It is thought that the Romans had developed a suspension system for long journeys over Roman Roads consisting of either chains or leather straps.
    • Normally, a wooden pole extended forward from the axle which was attached to the horses by a yoke and leather straps, with control of the horses done by leather reins.

Roman Horse Riding

  • The Roman Saddle
    • This had no stirrups. Instead the rider was pinned in by four horns at the corners of the saddle.
    • Roman Women rode side-saddle on horses
    • The Pack saddle would enable Goods to be loaded directly onto the back of the horse or mule.
  • Roman Horseshoe
    • The Roman Horseshoe was known as the Hipposandal and was made of Lead or Iron and wrapped around the Horse’s Hoof without being nailed to it.

Sources

  • Carved Reliefs
    • Most of the knowledge of Roman Carriages is derived from carved reliefs on Statues, Arches and Columns.

Museums

 

Roman Museum in Cologne, Germany

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