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public transport
Posted:
Thu Oct 24, 2002 7:33 pmby Q. C. Locatus Barbatus
Salvete,
Were there things like 'public transport' in Rome? Taxis?
Valete,
Loc
Posted:
Fri Oct 25, 2002 5:09 pmby Quintus Aurelius Orcus
Salve locate
I think they used chariots but more for every day use than for warfare. If there were taxis, than it was pulled by horses. Or mayby you could buy a horse if you were wealthy eough;
Vale
Sokarus Aurelius Orcus
Public Transport
Posted:
Mon Oct 28, 2002 12:20 amby Aldus Marius
Salvete amici,
Not chariots; covered litters, carried by slaves. Rich Romans had their own crews, some as finely-matched as any team of English carriage-horses. Romans of modest means could hire them or rent them at various places around town.
If you needed something carried besides yourself and your companion, you could hitch a ride on a cart or wagon; farmers were always bringing their goods into town and might not mind the extra "gas money". These vehicles were, however, always subject to the prohibition on wheeled transport within City limits during hours of daylight.
The "Roman going grocery-shopping in a chariot" is a Hollywood figment, though it did not begin there. It belongs with some of the "interesting", yet thoroughly erroneous notions of what Roman armor looked like.
In amicitia et fides,