Cataphracts

[Conal]

I have just read an article in JRMS 9 on the Sarmation influence on Roman cataphracts. It seemed to be suggesting that some of these guys rode side saddle hock:

Is there evidence for side saddles in antiquity ?

It aslo mentions that the kontos may have been strapped to the horses neck, which to me sound s a bit daft

[bachmat66]

Hello
just curious - who is the author and what is the year of this article?
in totality a very 'interesting' idea - a lancer cavalry riding 'side-saddle', unable to wield kontos. Can you elaborate more?
There is something resembling a side saddle, albeit with armoured trousers = a Greek vase depiction of a 4th century BC Persian Cavalryman - but that may be just an artistic way to depict those armoured pants that did not have long life in the Achaemenid Persian cavalry anyway
Dario

[Robert Vermaat]

IIRC, there are just a few images showing what seems to be cavalrymen with tight ankle-length armour, which prevents them from riding normally. So they ride side-saddle. However, it's just an interpretation, and I can't really say if wielding a long lance would be feasable, riding like that! hock:

[Conal]

http://www.armatura.connectfree.co.uk/jrmes/vol09.htm

The inference was that if the kontos was lashed to the front of the horse then a side saddle was possible.

It was also suggested that this mode of riding was to show contempt for the emeny.

[MeinPanzer]

I think that idea is derived from the 1872(?) Panticapaeum wall painting that shows a number of Sarmatian-style armoured cavalrymen wielding the contus and appearing to ride side-saddle. Pictures can be found in Mielczarek's "Cataphracti i Clibinarii" and probably a couple of other sources.

[Robert Vermaat]

Pictures can be found in Mielczarek's "Cataphracti i Clibinarii" .

Not that one. I have the book in front of me.

[MeinPanzer]

Pictures can be found in Mielczarek's "Cataphracti i Clibinarii" .

Not that one. I have the book in front of me.

:/ I get all those Panticapaeum tomb paintings mixed up a lot. I'll look through my books when I get home to see if I can find a picture of them.

[Conal]

Pictures can be found in Mielczarek's "Cataphracti i Clibinarii" .

Not that one. I have the book in front of me.

I am awaiting a possible reprint of this ..... how do you rate it ?

[Nicholas Gaukroger]

Interesting but mostly speculation based on little real evidence (because there is so little evidence). Worth getting though.

[Robert Vermaat]

Sometimes a bit vague and cinfusing, but I attribute that to the translation into English. His list of sources and quotes about heavy cavalry is indispensable though.

[MeinPanzer]

I am awaiting a possible reprint of this ..... how do you rate it ?

It's the most comprehensive single publication dealing with armoured cavalry in the ancient world, though if you pick it up, you quickly realize that there's not all that much information out there. As Nik said, much of it is speculation, but it is well worth it for the citations, references of other studies, and images alone.