Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Basterna

Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary, and Greek Lexicon (Rich, 1849)

BASTER'NA. A sort of palanquin, more especially appropriated to the use of females. (Poet. Incert. in Anthol. Lat. Ep. iii. 183.) It was a close carriage (Ammian. xiv. 6. 16.); and was borne by two mules, one before and one behind, each harnessed to a separate pair of shafts. (Pallad. vii. 2. 3.) The whole of this description corresponds so precisely with the annexed drawing (Basterna/1.1), from an old wood-cut of the 15th century, and with similar conveyances still in use in various countries, as to leave no doubt that the ancient basterna was formed upon a similar model.

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  Basterna/1.1