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cient paintings and sculptures of Thebes, and in the accompanying view of the simple body of a car, represented according to our European mode of draw

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No. 53.

figs. 1. 2. Chariots, in perspective.
figs. 3. 4. Saddles and part of the yoke.

From different Sculptures.

ing. It is, however, reasonable to suppose that they sometimes varied slightly in form, and that the car of war was of a different construction in some respects from the plaustrum*, or from the curricle of

*The Roman plaustrum had two, sometimes four, wheels. The waggons, or rather carts, sent by Pharaoh for Jacob are called, in

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(No. 53. a.) A war chariot, with bow-cases and complete furniture.

Thebes.

(No. 53. b.)

Chariot of the Rot-ǹ-no.

Thebes.

towns; and we not only find the two last destitute of all the cases for weapons except that of the bow, and sometimes of that also, but the solid portion of their sides was generally lower than in the former, where greater protection was required for those within; and on this account the Greek cars were entirely closed, except at the back.*

The bow-case, frequently richly ornamented, with the figure of a lion or other devices, was placed in an inclined position, pointing forwards; its upper edge, immediately below the flexible leather cover, being generally on a level with the summit of the framework of the chariot; so that when the bow was drawn out, the leather cover fell downwards, and left the upper part on an uninterrupted level. In battle this was of course a matter of no importance; but in the city, where the bowcase was considered an elegant part of the ornamental hangings of a car, and continued to be attached to itt, they paid some attention to the position and fall of the pendent cover, deprived as it there was of its bow, since, as I have elsewhere observed, the civilized state of Egyptian society required the absence of all arms, except on service.

une) רכב or מוכנה wheeled carriages; the chariot was עגלות ,Hebrew

monture). I use plaustrum for a two-wheeled chariot drawn by oxen. * In pl. iii. of Hope's Costumes is a car less closed than usual. + The following passage of Homer shows that the bow was suspended to the car, and exemplifies what I have before remarked (p. 72.), the severity of filial duties in those times.

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Αυταρ όγ' υίας αμαξαν εύτροχον ἡμιονείην,
Οπλισαι ηνώγει, πείρινθα δε δησαι επ' αυτης.”

Il. w, 189.; vide also lines 253. 267.

The quivers and spear-cases were suspended in a contrary direction, pointing backwards; sometimes an additional quiver was attached close to the bowcase, with a mace and other arms, and every war chariot containing two men was furnished with the same number of bows.

The framework, as I have stated, was of wood, like the pole, wheels, and other parts of the chariot; and we even find the mode of bending the wood for that purpose represented in the sculptures.* In the ornamental trappings, hangings, and binding of the framework and cases, leather was principally used, dyed of various hues, and afterwards adorned with metal edges and studs, according to the taste of the workman or purchaser; and the wheels, strengthened at the joints of the felly with bronze or brass bands, were bound with a hoop of metal. † The Egyptians themselves have not failed to point out what parts were the peculiar province of the carpenter and the currier. The body and framework of the car, the pole, yoke, and wheels, were the work of the former; the cases for the bows and other arms, the saddle and harness, the binding of the framework, and the coverings of the body, were finished by the currier; and lest it should not be sufficiently evident that they are engaged in cutting and bending the leather for this purpose, the artist has distinctly pointed out the nature of the sub

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stance they employed, by figuring an entire skin, and the soles of a pair of shoes*, or sandals, suspended in the shop; and no European can look at

* Vide wood-cut, No. 55. 7 and g.

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