Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Carpentum

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

CARPEN'TUM. A two-wheeled carriage, with an awning over it, and curtains by which it might be closed in front (Prop. iv. 8. 23. Apul. Met. x. p. 224.); capable of containing two or three persons, usually drawn by a pair of mules (Lamprid. Heliog. 4.), and used by the Roman matrons and ladies of distinction from remote antiquity. (Ov. Fast. i. 619. Liv. v. 25.) The illustration (Carpentum/1.1), which belongs to the earliest times is copied from an Etruscan painting (Micali, Italia avanti i Romani, tav. 27.), and represents a bride and bridegroom, or a married pair, as Livy describes Lucumo and his wife on their arrival at Rome (sedens carpento cum uxore. Liv. i. 34.).

2. Carpentum funebre or pompaticum. A state carpentum or carriage, in which the urn containing the ashes of the great, or their statues, were carried in the funeral procession. (Suet. Cal. 15. Id. Claud. 11. Isidor. Orig. xx. 12. 3.) These were likewise covered carriages, constructed upon the same principle as the preceding, but more showy and imposing in character; as may be seen by the example (Carpentum/2.1), from a medal struck in commemoration of one of the Roman empresses, its use being further implied by the form, which, it will be observed, is made in imitation of a tomb.

3. A cart employed for agricultural purposes, and apparently of very common and general use; for the same word is frequently applied in the sense of cart-load, as of dung, &c., to indicate a certain quantity, which every one would immediately recognise, as in the English phrase, "a load." (Pallad. x. 1. Veget. Mul. Med. iv. 3. Praef.) It was probably built like the first of the two specimens, but of coarser workmanship, and without the awning.

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  Carpentum/1.1
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  Carpentum/2.1