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 p994  Rheda

Unsigned article on p994 of

William Smith, D.C.L., LL.D.:
A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, John Murray, London, 1875.

RHEDA or REDA a was a travelling carriage with four wheels. Like the Covinus and the Essedum it was of Gallic origin (Quintil. Inst. Orat. I.5 §68; Caes. Bell. Gall. I.51),º and may perhaps contain the same root as the German reiten and our ride. It was the common carriage used by the Romans for travelling, and was frequently made large enough not only to contain many persons, but also baggage and utensils of various kinds (Cic. pro Mil. 10, 20; Juven. III.10; Mart. III.47). The word Epirhedium, which was formed by the Romans from the Greek preposition ἐπὶ and the Gallic rheda (Quint. l.c.), is explained by the Scholiast on Juvenal (VIII.66) as: "Ornamentum rhedarum aut plaustrum."


Thayer's Note:

a RHEDA or REDA: and often RHAEDA as in Varro, de Re Rust. II.7, where its easy-going pace is contrasted with the speed of a saddled cavalry horse.


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Page updated: 2 Sep 13