 A six horse chariot carried the divinity , the horses huge and flawlessly white , with expensive gold fittings and rich ornaments . No one held the reins , and no one rode in the chariot ; the vehicle was escorted as if the god himself were the charioteer . Elagabalus ran backward in front of the chariot , facing the god and holding the horses ' reins . He made the whole journey in this reverse fashion , looking up into the face of his god . 
