CAN´ATHRON
CAN´ATHRON (
κάναθρον or
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,
4, 139f:
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]
