Hippeus

From Warbirth Wiki

  • Is a replacement for the Light Chariot.
  • Throws javelins.

"Where are you fleeing from me, you soul that shall die twice?" -Plutarch, Sayings of the Spartans

History[edit | edit source]

While horses were known and used in Greece as early as 1700BCE, the art of horsemanship did not truly take place until the end of the Bronze Age.

Until the Persian Wars, many believe that the cavalry initially was used more in the role of scouts, as the tradition of the time wanted the aristocratic charioteers to dominate the battlefield and the small Greek horses could not carry armored men. But since the beginning of larger horses appearance, armored horsemen began to make their presence felt in battlefield. While only half of the charioteers could fight due to the need of one serving as a chariot driver, all the riders could engage the enemy.

Although fairly questionable in nature, Greek myths give us tantalising clues as to how this modern concept of cavalry spread into Greece. The struggles of the Minoans and Mycenaeans to establish colonies in Thrace, is probably the source of the myth about the flesh eating horses of the Thracian king Diomedes. Hercules finally managed to capture and bring to Mycenae these terrible animals. (3) From the myth we conclude that the spread of horsemanship skills in southern Greece was a long and arduous process. Hercules 9th Labor to possess the belt of the Amazon queen Hippolyta (4) informs us that the Greeks were very influenced by the Scythians in the matters of horsemanship equipment. Tales of Centaurs could well have been based on confrontations with fighters who had the skill to ride and fight at the same time.

From these myths, we can conclude that Greek cavalry traditions were heavily influenced by both Scythian and Thracian traditions.

As mentioned above, the Scythians and the Thracians in most matters about horse trappings and harness influenced the Greeks. Horses are depicted wearing their harness in pottery and sculpture. In the National Archaeological Museum there are also bridles that can cause great discomfort to unruly horses though Xenophon disagrees with their use (36) The saddle was known to the Scythians and Thracians and was made of felt. Its adoption by the Greeks was slow, probably because of its cost. Most riders used a simple cloth to cover the horse’s back in order to ride comfortably. Xenophon mentions that some did not use that either (37). This is consistent with some illustrations but because the touch of human flesh with the skin of the horse causes irritation, horsemen began to use cloth or animal skins to sit on them and ride comfortably.

The shield appears to have been widespread despite writings the contrary. The riders of Geometric and Classical Greece after contact with the Scythians and Thracians horsemen saw its advantages. The semicircular shield seems to have been quite widespread while the Archaic period a shield of the ‘Boeotian type» seems to have been dominant. The shield was valuable to riders who had to fight against light infantry equipped with ranged weapons.

References[edit | edit source]

Skarmintzos S; Ancient Greek Cavalry (1000-350 BC)