A dictionary of Greek and Roman . rigae, in which the Roman generals and emperorsrode when they triumphed. The body of thetriumphal car was cylindrical, as we often see itrepresented on medals. It was enriched withgold (aureo curru, Flor. i. 5 ; Hor. Epod. ix. 22)and ivory (Ov. Trist. iv. 2. 63, Pont. iii. 4. 35).The utmost skill of the painter and the sculptorwas employed to enhance its beauty and particularly the extremities of the axle, ofthe pole, and of the yoke, were highly wrought inthe form of animals heads. Wreaths of laurelwere sometimes hung round it (cu
A dictionary of Greek and Roman . rigae, in which the Roman generals and emperorsrode when they triumphed. The body of thetriumphal car was cylindrical, as we often see itrepresented on medals. It was enriched withgold (aureo curru, Flor. i. 5 ; Hor. Epod. ix. 22)and ivory (Ov. Trist. iv. 2. 63, Pont. iii. 4. 35).The utmost skill of the painter and the sculptorwas employed to enhance its beauty and particularly the extremities of the axle, ofthe pole, and of the yoke, were highly wrought inthe form of animals heads. Wreaths of laurelwere sometimes hung round it (currum laurige-rum, Claudian, De Laud. Stil. iii. 20, Tert. 130), and were also fixed to thejieads ofthe four snow-white horses. (Mart. vii. 7.) Thecar was elevated so that he who triumphed mightbe the most conspicuous person in the procession,and for the same reason he was obliged to standerect {in curru stantis eburno, Ovid, I. a). Thetriumphal car had in general no pole, the horsesbeing led by men who were stationed at Chariots executed in terra cotta {quadrigaefictiles, Plin. H. N. xxviii. 4), in bronze, or in , an example of which last is shown inthe preceding woodcut from an ancient chariotin the Vatican, were among the most beautifulornaments of temples and other public pains were spared in their decoration ; andPliny informs us {H. N. xxxiv. 19) that someof the most eminent artists were employed uponthem. In numerous instances they were de-signed to perpetuate the fame of those who hadconquered in the chariot-race. (Paus. vL 10.) Asthe emblem of victory, the quadriga was some-times adopted by the Romans to grace the trium-phal arch by being placed on its summit; andeven in the private houses of great families,chariots were displayed as the indications of rank,or the memorials of conquest and of triumph.(Juv. viii. 3.) [J. Y.] CURSORES, slaves, whose duty it was torun before the carriage of their masters, for thesame purpo
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