Not very different from the Persian chariot is one represented on a coin found at Babylon, but somewhat ruder ; but the spokes of the wheels are eight, as in the As- syrian chariot. This coin has given occasion to much unsound spec- ulation in the attempt to connect it with the history of Daniel. See Aodenk Babylonian Chariot. Babylon.
Ancient Greek Chariok Among the Greeks and Romans, chariots were used It all times for purposes of war, and the chariot-races of the ** Isthmian Games" were especially famous (see Smith's Diet, of Clan, Antiquity, s. v. Currus). See Chariot-race.
Ancient Ronutn Ohariji. Among the parts of wheel-carriages mentioned in the Scriptures are: 1, the loheel, 1Bi« (pj^an\ Exod. xiv, 25, etc.); also biba (^Hffat, 'isa. xxviii, 28) or
iA^ (^alffoT, Isa. V, 28; Ezek. x, 2, 6; xxiii, 24; xxvi, 10 ; id. Chald. Dan. vii, 9) ; 2, the rtm, nSi (yab, 1 Kmgs vii, 88; Ezek. i, 18); 8, the tpohe$, D*^;:^ (chishskMrn^ 1 Kings vi, 88) ; 4, the And, Q*t*i^TI (ckiihskurim', 1 Kings vii, 88); 5, the axU, "T^ (yad, 1 Kings vii, 82, 88). To harness (yoke) the horses oi other animals is designated by *nDfi< (oaor^, Gen. xli, 29 ; 1 Sam. vi, 7; 1 Kings xviii, 14),^ DPi'J (raiham', Mic. i, 18) ; also 33'n (rakab\ Hos. x, 11), which prop- erly signifies to ride or drive. See Wheel.
The word chariots is sometimes used fig^iratively for hosts or armies (Psa. Ixviii, 17 ; 2 Kings vi, 17) ; and El^ah, by his prayers and counsels, and power with God, was '*the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof* (2 Kings ii, 12 ; see Rosh, De atrru Israelis^ Bautz. 1780), inasmuch as he did more for them than all the chariots they could muster (Psa. xx, 7 ; Isa. iii, 1).— ECitto, s. V. ; Smith, s. v. See War.
The term " chariot" is likewise used poetically in Scripture to designate the rapid agencies of God in nature (Psa. civ, 8 ; Ixviii, 17 ; Isa. Ixvi, 16 ; Hab. iii, 8). See Wemyss, SymboL Diet. s. v.
Gaftains op Chariots (Exod. xv, 4) might be supposed to denote the officer or officers who had charge of the chariot forces, but the literal meaning is mounted third men (D'^l^'^bd). Tliis passage seems ob- scure, but a picture firom an E^rptian tomb (the Riune- seium of Thebes), nearly or quite as ancient as the pe- riod to which the above-cited passage relates, furnishes a key to this other- wise difficult ex- pression. It rep- resents three men standing upon a chariot, two of whom are prepared for action, and the third manages the horses (compare the large cut above of the Assyrian chariot). They were probably select- ed for their valor, and perhaps formed by themselves a distinct division of the army, and each had its dis- tinct officer (Exod. xiv, 7). See Captains.
Chariot or the Cherubim probably means the firame-work on which the cherubim rested, and one pattern of which might resemble the body of a char- iot (1 Chron. xxviii, 18). See Cherub.
Chariot-cities, cities specially designated for stor- ing the chariots of war during tiie time of peace, as magazines and arsenals of modem times are used (2 Chron. i, 14). See City.
Chariot-horses, such as were peculiarly fitted, by size, spirit, docility, or special training, for service in chariots, as carriage, draught, and saddle horses of later days (2 Kings vii, 14). See Horse.
Chariot-mait, the driver or charioteer, or perhaps an officer who had charge of the chariot (2 Chron. xviii, 38). See Driver.
Chariots op War (Exod. xiv, 7 ; 2 Sam. viii, 4). One class of carriages thus denominated were used as the common vehicles of princes and generals ; but an- other formed the most terrible of military engines, and were employed in great numbers to break the enemy's battalions by rushmg in among them (1 Sam. xiii, 6 ; 1 Chron. xviii, 4). Like other ancient carriages, they had usually only two wheels ; and iron hooks or scythes, strong and sharp, were affixed to the extremities of the axles on each side, which made dreadful havoc among the troops (Josh, xi, 4 ; Judg. iv, 8, 18). Waf-
Andent Egyptian Chariot carrjing three WarriorB.
CHARISMA
218
CHARITT .
riors •ometimes fought standing on &«m, or leaping ftom them upon the enemy. The chariots in the army of Cyrus were capacious enough to permit twenty men to fight from them. If we examine the sculptures of Egypt, we find that the strength of tlie armies of the Pliaraohs was in their chailolB, an Egyptian army be- ing composed Exclusively of infemtry and higas, or two-horsed chariots, which carry the driver and the warrior. In no instance is an Egyptian ever repre- sented on horsehack. Such palpable evidence that the Egyptians did not employ cavalry is difficult to reconcile with the Scripture account of the pursuit of the Israelites, which expressly speaks of ** the hcvses and chariots c^ Pharaoh, and his horsemen* ' (Exod. xiv, 9). Hengstenberg, after a critical examination of tlie text, says, in his ^^ and the Bookt ofMo$e$ (p. 126), tliat '* Moses does not mention cavalry at all; that, according to him, the Egyptian army is composed only of chariots of war, and that he thereibre agrees in a wonderful manner with the native Egyptian monu- ments." SeeABKT; Chabiot.