Quadriga.

1. .
Fig. 387 – Triomphal arch in Leptis
Magna (Libya) with Emperor Septimus
Severus on a quadriga. Pl. 335B in:
BOARDMAN (1993).
The quadriga could be of importance to
the tetrapartite way of thinking
because of its metaphorical
connotations, which bring the material
feature – of four horses drawing a
carriage – in the realm division-
thinking. The shift from a factual-

2. material observation to a symbolic
visibility is a distinct change in the
cognitive position of the observer and
adds some magical properties to it. A
short exploratory analysis of the
quadriga will investigate the shift
along the boundaries between fact and
fiction.
The inhabitants of the mountainous area
north of the French Riviera, around
Mount Bega, created some three thousand
years ago a wealth of rock drawings.
This ancient material was studied
around 1900 by Clarence Bickwell. A
number of two- and four spans are
selected here (fig. 388).

3. Fig. 388 – Rock drawings of two- and
four-spans in the area west of Tende
(Southern France), near Mount Bega.
These rock drawings date from the
Bronze Era in Europe (2000 – 800 BC).
In: LEGLER (1983).
An illustrated copy from the eleventh
century of Hrabanus Maurus ‘De Rerum

4. Naturus’, originally written between
842 and 847, exhibited the sun god (Sol
Invictus) on a quadriga (Chapter
IX, ‘De Sole’; Cas. fol. 120r; Pal.
fol. 111r). This ‘ancient pictorial
tradition showing Helios or Sol riding
a frontal quadriga’ (Le BERRURIER,
1978) was incorporated in the biblical
exegesis to support the ‘interpretatio
christiana‘ (fig. 416).
A comparison of two types of division-
thinking: a glorious Sun as a
representative of the day (light) in a
tetradic setting and a downwards going
Moon, characteristic for the night
(darkness), in duality.

6. This type of representation is inspired
by oppositional thinking. Around 1000.
Bibliotheque Municipale, Boulogne-sur-
Mere.
The Christian variant of the ascension
of Eliah on a quadriga was – compared
to the traditional symbolism of the
quadriga as the vehicle carrying the
god – less famous.
The Bible book II Kings 2 : 1 – 18
described a peculiar story of Eliah,
who took his mantle and divided the
waters of the river Jordan and created
a passageway. Then Elisah, who was with
him, could do a wish and Elisah
said: ‘I pray thee, let a double
portion of thy spirit be upon me.’
After a while there appeared a chariot
of fire, and horses of fire, and parted
them. Eliah went up by a whirlwind into
heaven. The quadriga and the mantle can
be seen as symbols of four- and two-
division .
The prophet Eliah was carried to heaven
in a quadriga. The Christian
alternative of the sun god symbolism
can be found in the biblical story of

7. the prophet Eliah. His companion, the
prophet Elisah, still has Eliah’s
mantle in his hand. Left: in the ‘Sacra
Parallela’ (Parisinus Graecus)
(WEITZMANN, 1979). Right: from
the Vaticanus Graecus. (LASSUS 1973).
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9. Fig. 416 – Sol on a quadriga, the Moon on a biga. A comparison of two types of
division-thinking: a glorious Sun as a representative of the day (light) in a
tetradic setting and a downwards going Moon, characteristic for the night
(darkness), in duality. This type of representation is inspired by opposit ional
thinking. Around 1000. Bibliotheque Municipale, Boulogne-sur-Mere.
Manuscript 188, fol. 32v. (CHATZIDAKIS & GRABAR, 1965).
The Christian variant of the ascension of Eliah on a quadriga was – compared to
the traditional symbolism of the quadriga as the vehicle carrying the god – less
famous. The Bible book II Kings 2 : 1 – 18 described a peculiar story of Eliah, who
took his mantle and divided the waters of the river Jordan and created a
passageway. Then Elisah, who was with him, could do a wish and Elisah said: ‘I
pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.’ After a while there
appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them. Eliah went up by a
whirlwind into heaven. The quadriga and the mantle can be seen as symbols of
four- and two-division (fig. 417).

10. Fig. 417 – The prophet Eliah was carried to heaven in a quadriga. The Christian
alternative of the sun god symbolism can be found in the biblical story of the
prophet Eliah. His companion, the prophet Elisah, still has Eliah’s mantle in his

11. hand. Left: in the ‘Sacra Parallela’ (Parisinus Graecus) (WEITZMANN, 1979).
Right: from the Vaticanus Graecus. (LASSUS 1973).
WEITZMANN (1979) gave some examples of this event: 1. In the ‘Sacra
Parallela’(Parisinus Graecus 923, fol. 268v, fig. 414-left). 2. In a manuscript of
Gregory (Paris, Cod. gr. 510) and 3. In a ninth century copy of the ‘Christian
Topography’ of Cosmas Indicopleustes (WOLSKA, 1962; Vat. cod. gr. 699),
displaying a two span and Vat. cod. gr. 333. Fig. 414-right is from the Vaticanus
Graecus.