Roman Vehicles

Introduction (by Jim Dorrington)

The early Romans (500BC) were not great masters in the art of carriage building, and the earliest was the PLAUSTRUM. It's solid pair of wheels did not rotate to the axis, but were solidly attached to it. Naturally, this produced an awful creaking from the agricultural loads, as also in the towns.

The Roman Empire was adept in the pirating of designs of the subjucated and conquered lands.

The first improvement of the Plaustrum was a pair of spoked wheels and this formed the possibility of a 4-wheeled carriage. The title was the CARPENTUM, a 2-wheeled pair, but a 4-wheeled carriage was only to be used by the Emporer.

The PILENTRUM originally was a sacred vehicle. It was an improved version of the Plaustrum. Later, the same vehicle was used by the Vestal Virgins and by the older ladies in the festival processions.

Certain rights for special women to travel by carriage were later abolished by Caesar.

Men did not ride in carriages, or only when granted in the most exceptional cases. Later, the use of the chariot was apparently quite commonplace and those entitled exercised  their rights to the fullest extent

In spite of the developments to wheeled carriages and the good roads, it was not possible to cover more than 35 miles a day. People wishing to travel far went on horseback.

The ESSENDUM was a vehicle of Celtic origin in both Britain and France in the first century AD.

The term "Essendum" was used for a variety of vehicles, sometimes for 2-wheeled war chariots, to travelling carriages and occasionally, even to farm carts.

The RAEDA was the frequently used travelling vehicle used for general purposes for both travelling and for sleeping. The carriage did not require any special alteration to convert it. The CARRUCA DORMITORIA was another type of travelling carriage, and, as its name implies, a sleeper.

The Raeda and Carruca were used also as ceremonial carriages and were sometimes decorated with bronze and ivory reliefs, even with gold and silver repousse work.

The CISIUM is often mentioned among Roman travelling vehicles. It is different in that the Raeda was 2-wheeled.

The CISIARIUS was the name for the hired carriage (like our cars), picked up at the town gates. As well as the lightweight BIROTA and the, the VEREDA and CURRUS were available for heavy loads.

These heavier wagons were for easy stages and for the conveyance of sick and wounded legionaries. The Romans had the ANGARIAand the CALBULA or CLABURE. The latter was a large open wagon with latticed sides. It was used for the army and officials of lower rank.

VEHICLE CATALOGUE

ARCERA

A large four-wheeled carriage drawn by horses or men. Also, baggage wagons with wooden or wickerwork sides.

BENNA

A farm cart with a floor of wooden planks and sides of thick grass or straw ropes drawn by two horses or oxen.

BIROTUM

A small chariot used for public transport or private use drawn by a single horse. It was to be found at inns, posting houses or street ranks for public hire.

CARPENTUM

A light, small two-wheeled, covered, carriage with side decoration in which Roman matrons were transported in public festival processions. Others were used for long distance travel. It was drawn by two mules with pole gear.

CARRUCA

A special form of four-wheeled RHEDA used by the Roman Emporers and aristocratic ladies. The sides were hignly decorated with embossed metal, including gold. It was drawn by horses or, in the case of women, by mules.

CARRUCA DORMITORIA

Based on the CARRUCA this was a sleeping carriage, equipped with slung hammocks, for long distance travel.  

CARRUS or CURRUS

A general name for any large road vehicle drawn by horses, oxen or mules. It was used for travelling.

CHAMULIUS

A small open vehicle used for short journeys in towns drawn by a single horse.

CHARIOT

A sporting vehicle used for racing in the Hippodromes of the Roman Empire. The body was high at the front, entered from the rear with a low centre of gravity. The vehicle was drawn by two, three, four or more horses abreast

CIRRICULUS

Small child's vehicle drawn by a goat or pony.

CISIUM

     a. A two-wheeled open fronted vehicle often driven at great speed by fashionable young men. A lightweight, decorative body supported two oversize wheels. The vehicle could be drawn by a single horse or two or three abreast.

     b. A moderate sized vehicle carrying passengers, luggage and mail offering a speedy posting service across the Roman Empire.

COVINUS

A small two-wheeled travelling carriage noted for its two long scythe blades extending from the axles.

CURRAS

A type of two-wheeled chariot

EPIRHEDUM

A covered passenger vehicle drawn by two, or more horses.

PETORRITUM
A four-wheeled, uncovered wagon copied from a design from Gaul.

PILENTUM

A canopied two or four-wheeled vehicle used for ceremonial occasions or as a passenger vehicle for Roman aristocrats. Passengers were accommodated on large, soft cushions.

PLAUSTRUM or PLOSTRUM

A heavy two or four-wheeled, uncovered, agricultural vehicle with a strong pole on which a wooden board was fitted for carrying the load. Boards were also fitted to the sides while some vehicles were fitted with basket-work sides. The vehicle was drawn by a team of horses, oxen or mules. Some were later fitted with seats to carry passengers and high ranking officials touring the regions.

POSTELLUM

A small, light vehicle for children drawn by a small pony or goat.

QUADRIGA

A war chariot drawn by a four horse team, abreast.

RAEDA or RHEDA
A four-wheeled passenger vehicle used for the long distance transportation of passengers or freight. Some were adapted for night travel with hammocks. Drawn by teams of horses, oxen or mules.

SARRAACA or SARRACUM

A two-wheeled country cart used for the transportation of farm produce.

SELLA CURULAS

Similar to the PLAUSTRUM but headed with a canopy roof.

THENSA OR TENSA

A four-wheeled, highly ornamented vehicle used for carrying deities (Jupiter and Minerva) to and from the games.

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