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Currus or Carrus?

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David Amicus

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Jan 24, 2014, 12:10:51 PM1/24/14
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My little Latin dictionary says that CURRUS means chariot. Also poetically ship. And Currus Triumphalis is the chariot a victorious general would ride in.

The bio of Germanicus however used Carrus Triumphalis.


My little Latin dictionary says CARRUS is a type of Gallic wagon.

Ed Cryer

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Jan 24, 2014, 2:18:16 PM1/24/14
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"Carrus Triumphalis" seems very inappropriate to me; rather like a
"triumphal cart". I've only ever seen "currus triumphalis".

"Carrus" is a "wagon" or "cart"; the generic term for anything that
transports stuff. In the historians you often find "iumenta et carri"
(pack-animals and carts); and when armies are on the march
("agmen")"carri" come in the rear, with usually some soldiers behind
them as a rear-guard.

The sun-god always drives a "currus". Phoebus Apollo wouldn't be seen
dead in a "carrus".

Ed

Johannes Patruus

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Jan 24, 2014, 2:50:20 PM1/24/14
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In the third stanza of the anonymous hymn 'Deus qui caeli lumen es',
Phosphorus (sc. the sun) demands his "currus". Here are the first three
stanzas -

Deus, qui caeli lumen es
satorque lucis, qui polum
paterno fultum bracchio
praeclara pandis dextera:

Aurora stellas iam tegit
rubrum sustollens gurgitem,
umectis namque flatibus
terram baptizans roribus.

Currum iam poscit Phosphorus
radiis rotisque flammeis,
quod caeli scandens verticem
profectus moram nesciens.

Patruus

C.

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Jan 27, 2014, 3:30:53 AM1/27/14
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Sounds like "carrus" could be used today for U-haul type cargo and trailer vans.

C.

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Jan 27, 2014, 3:33:02 AM1/27/14
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Bother no edit function as per "currus" well nothing beats Horace (and the sentiment):

"alme Sol, curru nitido diem qui
promis et celas aliusque et idem 10
nasceris, possis nihil urbe Roma
visere maius."
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