History Riding above the crowd
A litter was a couch or chair with a roof and curtains, carried on long poles by bearers. Rich Romans used litters in the city, where wagons were banned by day, and on short trips. They could read, rest or talk with friends while being carried.
Litters were a sign of wealth and power. Julius Caesar limited who could use them in Rome, allowing them only to certain people and on certain days.
History The bearers
Litter bearers, called lecticarii, were usually enslaved men, chosen for their strength and often dressed to match. Slavery was common in the Roman world, and much of the hard physical work of the city was done by enslaved people.
History After Rome
Litters and sedan chairs stayed in use for centuries. In the 1600s and 1700s, hired sedan chairs carried people through the streets of cities such as London and Paris, a little like taxis.
Art In this artwork
This illustration shows a red and gold litter carried by two bearers. Real litters often needed four, six or even eight bearers.
Look closer
- How many bearers are carrying the litter?
- Find the curtains. Why might riders want privacy?
Think about it
- Is it fair that some people were carried while others did the carrying?
- What are the "litters" of today: ways only rich people travel?
- Why would a ruler limit who could use a litter?
Key words
- Lectica
- A Roman litter.
- Lecticarius
- A litter bearer.
- Sedan chair
- A later, chair-shaped litter.
Sources
The history on this page is a short summary based on these sources:
- Encyclopaedia Britannica, "Litter" (sedan chair)
- Suetonius, "The Life of Julius Caesar", chapter 43
- Tabula Heracleensis (Lex Julia Municipalis, about 45 BC), rules on wagons in the streets of Rome
