male (e)st("bad luck "), fur ("thief "), nugator (" trifler "), stumacose ("ill-tempered fellow "), etc., and on the other with numbers. The pieces mentioned have the numbers XXIII A, II, I, and II A respectively on their reverse side (see fig. 206). The whole series of numbers on these ivories runs from 1 to 25, and includes in addition 30 and 60; it is noteworthy that the highest numbers have inscriptions of a complimentary character, e.g., felix and

FIG. 207. ITINERANT WITH PERFORMING ANIMALS (No. 486). 2:3. benigne. The pieces may have been used in the Roman game called "the game of soldiers" (ludus latrunculorum).1

At the top of Cases 57-58 is an oblong marble board (No. 483), inscribed with six words of six letters each. It was found in a tomb near the Porta Portese, Rome. The words are

"Circus full," "Great shouting," "Doors bursting (?)."

Each word is separated from that opposite it by a flower within

1 Latro originally meant " a mercenary soldier."

a circle. The stone served as a board for a game, the pieces used in which were probably the so-called " contorniates," bronze discs of coin-form, with designs in relief on either side within a raised rim and a circular depression. Two examples of these contorniates (in electrotype) are exhibited below the stone board (No. 484). The pieces are of late Imperial date, of about the time of Constantine. Many have subjects closely connected with the circus, a fact which harmonizes well with the inscription on the board described. One of the two exhibited has a head of Alexander and a representation of a chariot race, the other a head of Nero and a water-organ (see below, p. 221).

Acrobatic feats are represented by two bronze statuettes (No. 485) of a man walking on his hands, while a Roman lamp (No. 486; fig. 207) gives an interesting view of an itinerant with his troop of performing animals. On his right is an ape, on his left a cat climbing a ladder. Above are two hoops for the animals to jump through. Another form of amusement is illustrated by the kylix (No. 487) placed in this Case. A boy is seated, and holds on his knee a cage containing a bird, probably a quail. Quail-fighting was a very popular amusement at Athens, where odds were freely betted on the result of the encounter. The wooden instrument, seen above the boy, would be used to provoke the quails to fight with one another. The game of quail-striking (opтvуокоπíα) was another variety of sport with quails. In this the object was to drive the quail out of a marked circle by dint of striking it with the fingers or pulling out its feathers.1

(481) Cf. Röm. Mitt., 1896, p. 238 ff.; Rev. Arch., IV. (5), 1905, p. 110 ff.; (482) Röm. Mitt., 1896, p. 227 ff.; (483) Cf. Num. Chron. (4th Series), VI., p. 232 ff.; Notizie degli Scavi, 1887, p. 118.

On ancient toys and games generally, see Becq de Fouquières, Les jeux des anciens; Daremberg et Saglio, s.v. Ludus.

XIX. HORSES AND CHARIOTS.

(Wall-Cases 49-51.)

Chariots and Carts. The war-chariot plays a conspicuous part in the Homeric poems, and the horse and chariot are there so closely identified that we find the phrase "he leapt from his horses" used as equivalent to "he leapt from his chariot." After

1 Poll., ix. 108.

the Homeric age, however, the use of the chariot in war died out in Greece,' and it thenceforward appears most conspicuously in the great Greek games, where it was used for racing purposes. A very early example of this racing chariot may be seen on a Boeotian bowl of the eighth century (on the top of Case D, First Vase Room).2 Here are depicted two chariots with a high open framework at front and back, each drawn (apparently) by a single horse, and driven by a man clothed in the long robe distinctive of the Greek charioteer. There is little doubt that in reality the chariots are

FIG. 208.-ROMAN RACING CHARIOT (No. 488). L. 10 in.

meant to be drawn by two horses, and that the deceptive appearance is due to the limitations of the artist. On Greek monuments of a later date than this vase, the light racing chariot is constantly represented. A design from a black-figured vase of the sixth century B.C. (Frontispiece)3 gives a good view of this type of chariot,

1 A reminiscence of the use of the war-chariot can be traced in the names (vioxo κаì Tараßáтаι) given to a picked band of Boeotian warriors who fought at the battle of Delium in 424 B.C. See Diod. xii. 70, 1.

2 See Journ. of Hell. Stud., XIX., pl. 8. 3 Second Vase Room, Case 47, B 304.

into which the horses are being harnessed. The two in the middle are in position, and the further of the two outer ones (a piebald) is being led up, muzzled, by the groom. The charioteer at the side is, as usual, distinguished by his long white robe. The end of the curved pole is attached by a strap to a rod at the top of the chariot frame to give it greater stability. One end of the yoke, which is lashed to the pole, is visible, together with one of the two guiding rings for the reins. The collar and trace for the nearest outside horse hang over the side of one of those already harnessed.

Roman chariots are represented by a good bronze model (No. 488; fig. 208) found in the Tiber. This is a racing car, drawn at full speed by two horses, one of which is now lost. It corresponds closely to the cars used for racing in the circus, such as may be seen in Case 110. At the end of the pole (appearing just behind the horse's mane) is a decoration in the form of a ram's head, an ornament of the same character as the four bronze objects placed with the horse-muzzles in the upper part of Case 51 (No. 489). These have decorations in the form of the bust of a

Satyr blowing a horn, and busts of a boy, an Amazon, and a Cupid respectively. In the lowest parts of Cases 50 and 51 are various bronze decorations, which have no doubt belonged to axle-boxes and other parts of a chariot, but their exact arrangement is not clear.

Another form of Roman car is illustrated by the fine hanging bronze lamp representing the Moon-goddess (Luna), drawn in her chariot by a pair of bulls (No. 490; fig. 209). The lamp was for three więks, two on the outer sides of the bulls, and one at the back of Luna's head. The goddess is represented on coins of the

FIG. 210.-ROMAN CAR FOR CARRYING IMAGES TO THE CIRCUS (No. 492). L. 2 ft. 10 in.

second and third century after Christ in a similar bull-car.1 A terracotta (No. 491) is in the form of a four-wheeled hooded waggon, probably a travelling car of the type called arm by the Greeks and raeda by the Romans. Juvenal's friend Umbricius, when moving from Rome into the country, packed his whole household effects into one of these waggons.2 In the top of Case 49 is a marble relief (No. 492; fig. 210) representing a covered two-wheeled cart drawn by four horses. The sides of

1

Pius).

E.g., on B.M. Coins of Ionia, pl. xx. 7 (Coin of Magnesia: Gordianus

2 Juv., iii. 10: