10-03-2010, 03:03 AM
The Aemilius Paullus monument to the battle of Pydna shows the heavy cavalry of Philip's son Perseus as shielded with large circular shields , and probably armed with longche and/or javelins. Another clue that Macedonian cavalry were shielded/missile armed - Livy describes their surprise at being charged by Roman cavalry, since they evidently expected to fight at a distance.
A Seleucid terracotta in the British Museum (BM 91908) shows a fully armoured cavalryman hunting a lion. He is unshielded and uses the two-handed 'kontos', and the relief is dated to 200 BC, and perhaps later.
I agree with Rueben that Seleucid cavalry with shields appear on funerary stelae and terracotta statuettes, but these seem to be 'militia/politikoi' type cavalry who were shielded/missile armed ( as described in the Daphnae parade).A shielded cavalryman appears alongside a Hellenistic infantryman in long sleeves and trousers ( therefore eastern/seleucid ) on a terracotta plaque found in Campania.
Unarmoured Seleucid light cavalry certainly carried smaller shields and were missile armed.
Following Antiochus III's campaigns against the Parthians, Seleucid regular/full-time cavalry seem to have become 'cataphracts' ( lit:covered in) fully armoured cavalry ('men and horses completely armoured' according to Polybius) using the two handed 'kontos' , therefore shieldless.
The Seleucid Guards units seem to have been slightly lighter equipped - Livy describes the Companions at Magnesia as "with lighter protection for riders and mounts, but otherwise equipment not unlike the cataphracts.." thus they too will have been 'lancer/kontos' armed and since this required two hands to wield, almost certainly shieldless ( especially when one considers the BM terracotta referred to above.)
A Seleucid terracotta in the British Museum (BM 91908) shows a fully armoured cavalryman hunting a lion. He is unshielded and uses the two-handed 'kontos', and the relief is dated to 200 BC, and perhaps later.
I agree with Rueben that Seleucid cavalry with shields appear on funerary stelae and terracotta statuettes, but these seem to be 'militia/politikoi' type cavalry who were shielded/missile armed ( as described in the Daphnae parade).A shielded cavalryman appears alongside a Hellenistic infantryman in long sleeves and trousers ( therefore eastern/seleucid ) on a terracotta plaque found in Campania.
Unarmoured Seleucid light cavalry certainly carried smaller shields and were missile armed.
Following Antiochus III's campaigns against the Parthians, Seleucid regular/full-time cavalry seem to have become 'cataphracts' ( lit:covered in) fully armoured cavalry ('men and horses completely armoured' according to Polybius) using the two handed 'kontos' , therefore shieldless.
The Seleucid Guards units seem to have been slightly lighter equipped - Livy describes the Companions at Magnesia as "with lighter protection for riders and mounts, but otherwise equipment not unlike the cataphracts.." thus they too will have been 'lancer/kontos' armed and since this required two hands to wield, almost certainly shieldless ( especially when one considers the BM terracotta referred to above.)
"dulce et decorum est pro patria mori " - Horace
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
