Lorica Hamata being pierced by arrows

[Michael Kerr]

Mark Hygate wrote:

I assume we are talking about massed bowfire from a significant, but reasonable, distance (certainly outside light javelin range) from a moving horse

Why would the massed arrow fire have to be from a moving horse. They could quite easily just fire from a stationary horse (out of javelin range of course, assuming the Romans had any left) for better aim and if a legionary or an undisciplined group of them were foolhardy or maddened enough, either by frustration or thirst, to race out and attack the horsemen they would then probably ride off, then circle the isolated Romans and cut down the attacking infantry immediately as they knew how to fire while riding away. The Parthian/Saka horse archers were basically herdsmen from Surena's lands in the east so they would have been skilled at the use of the lasso as well to catch and drag any isolated legionaires away from the Roman square and then finish them off. You are right that the Romans were probably worn down more from heat and lack of water but they must have lost more than half of their army to arrow fire or their fearsome cataphracts as I think that the Parthians captured about 10,000 Romans and I am not sure how many managed to return to Syria but I don't think the Parthians/Saka horsemen had to constantly circle the Roman square like Indians around a circled wagon train and would have been very conscious of not wearing down their own horses. They would have concentrated in groups at perceived weak points in the Roman square and worked away at them. :unsure:
Regards
Michael Kerr