Note 10 — Chapter the First

Stratton treats of these Roman carriages and carts in considerable detail, and mentions in addition to the plostellum, or small plaustrum, the carrus, monarchus, and birotum. Of these the carrus, or cart, differed from the plaustrum in the following particulars: “The box or form could not be removed, as in the former case, but was fastened upon the axle-tree; it lacked the broad flooring of planks or boards, which served as a receptacle for certain commodities when the sides were removed; the wheels were higher [and] ... spoked, not solid like the tympana.” The carrus clabularius, or stave-waggon, could be lengthened or shortened as required. The monarchus was a very light two-wheeled vehicle something like the cisium. The birotum was also a small two-wheeled vehicle, with a leather-covered seat, used in the time of Constantine, an “early post-chaise,” as Stratton puts it.