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canathron

CANATHRON

CAN´ATHRON(κάναθρονor κάνναθρον) was a Laconian car made of wood, with an arched plaited covering,--πλέγματα ἔχουσα, as Hesych. says (hence the derivation probably from κάννα, a reed),--in which the Spartan ladies used to go to Amyclae for the celebration of the Hyacinthia. We may compare the Roman pilentum. The capital passage is Polycrates ap. Athenaeus, 15.4, 139 f: τῶν δὲ παρθένων αἱ μὲν ἐπὶ καννάθρων καμαρωτῶν ξυλίνων ἁρμάτων φέρονται πολυτελῶς κατεσκευασμένων. The nature of the adornments was at times fantastic: εἴδωλα γρυπῶν ἢ τραγελάφων (Plut. Ages. 19; cf. Xen. Ages. 8, 7; Müller, Dorians, 2.298). Eustath. on Il. 24.190 is in error in stating that κάνναθρον and πείρινς are the same. The latter is a basket put into the chariot, and used for holding the necessaries for a journey, and also for a seat (Buchholz, Hom. Real. 2.1, 228).

[L.C.P]

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