ANCIENT CHARIOT. iSt 



The yoke or Ji/gum was of wood, of a length fufE- 

 cient to reach from the withers of one horfe to thofe of 

 the other, leaving a proper diftance between them for 

 the temo. It was of fuch a breadth, and fo curved and 

 hollowed in its form,/^. J, e,e, that the refpedive ends 

 which refled on the Aoipog, or withers of each horfe, 

 might lie there with eafe to the horfe, and with fecu- 

 rity to the carriage. Each end of the yoke was va- 

 rioufly carved and ornamented. The middle part of 

 this yoke was fo curved, ^^. A J, and hollowed, as to re- 

 ceive (the oiK^oc) the end of the temo, which was laid 

 upon it. In the middle of which concavity a pin or 

 peg called by Homer \£Vx<;^,j%. A a, was fixed ereft, fo 

 as to pafs through either the folid body of the head 

 of the temo, or through a ring called by Homer K^iKog, 

 affixed to the end of it. I have taken notice of this 

 hole or ring in fpeaking of the temo. When the temo 

 was affixed as above to the yoke, it was faftened and 

 bound to it by the long leather thong called Ztvyo- 

 S'ecrfxoc, or mejfabos. The length being generally be- 

 twixt fifteen and eighteen feet; that mentioned by Ho- 

 mer is nine cubits, or thirteen feet and an half. This 

 thong was of crude or white leather, in order that it 

 might be more pliant in its ligatures. That thefe liga- 

 tures might be fecured againft flipping or giving way, 

 the yoke had three or more groves, J?^. A t^r, or niches 

 cut in it, called o^(p«Ao<, in which this thong is funk 



* Iliad, xxiv. 

 Vo L. I. Oo ia 



