mail: Bill Thayer

Help

Up

Home

 p101  Antyx

Article by James Yates, M.A., F.R.S.,
on p101 of

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

ANTYX, (ἄντυξ, probably allied etymologically with ἄμπυξ), the rim or border of any thing, especially of a shield, or chariot. The rim of the large round shield of the ancient Greeks was thinner than the part which it enclosed. Thus the ornamental border of the shield of Achilles, fabricated by Hephaestus, was only threefold, the shield itself being sevenfold (Il. XVIII.479; comp. XX.275). See examples of the antyx of a shield in woodcuts to Antefixa, Arma, Clipeus.

On the other hand, the antyx of a chariot must have been thicker than the body to which it was attached, and to which it gave both form and strength. For the same reason, it was often made double, as in the chariot of Hera (Δοιαὶ δὲ περίδρομοι ἄντυγές εἰσι, Il. V.728). It rose in front of a chariot in a curved form, on which the reins might be hung (Il. V.262, 322). A simple form of it is exhibited in the annexed woodcut from the work of Carloni. Sometimes antyx is used to signify the chariot itself.

Images with borders lead to more information. The thicker the border, the more information. (Details here.)
UP TO:	Smith's Dictionary: Warfare	Smith's Dictionary	LacusCurtius	Home
A page or image on this site is in the public domain ONLY if its URL has a total of one *asterisk. If the URL has two **asterisks, the item is copyright someone else, and used by permission or fair use. If the URL has none the item is © Bill Thayer. See my copyright page for details and contact information.

Accessibility