The Antiquities of Orissa v1.c10.482

v1.c10.482

Ordinarily the body was made of a wooden framework, covered with leather,²⁴⁷ and open above like that of a tandem ; but sometimes an awning on top was put upon three posts, and the whole surmounted by a flag. The *Mahābhārata* describes a square body with four posts, like the modern *ekkās* of northern India. It is possible that both styles were common during the Vedic epoch. In the Sāñcī specimens the accommodation available in these vehicles was barely sufficient for two persons to stand or sit side by side. The Grecian *Diphros* as its name implies, was intended only for two persons ; and the Roman bore only the *bellator*, or warrior, and the *auriga*, or driver. The Egyptian could carry three persons. The sculptures of Assyria and Persia show no more than two persons in each. But the *Ṛgveda* alludes to three benches as fixtures in each car, and the space sufficient for several persons and some goods.²⁴⁸ The *rathas* of the *Rāmāyaṇa* and the *Mahābhārata* were, likewise, large and commodious, and generally carried a large supply of arms, differing in this respect from those of Egypt, Persia and Greece, which never had any covering, awning or hood, and were seldom large enough for more than three persons, all standing or seated abreast on one bench. The Grecian chariot, though differing in some respects in the make of its wheels, poles, &c. from the Vedic model, bore a close relation to the Sāñcī examples ; and to make that manifest, I shall here quote Homer's description of the curricle of Achilles.