Defensive Armor of the Han Period 219 



215) were familiar with the mode of fighting both on horseback and on 

 foot, which indicates that when in the saddle they were mounted foot- 

 men. The Parthian mounted archers were dreaded and detested by the 

 Romans, chiefly because in taking to flight they shot their arrows back- 

 ward at the pursuing enemy. 1 The Mongols, during their invasions, 

 availed themselves of the same mode of tactics. " In battle they with- 

 draw in good order, as soon as they are at a disadvantage, " says the Ar- 

 menian historian Haithon, "but it is very dangerous to pursue them, as, 

 though turning back, they are able to shoot during the flight, and thus 

 wound men and horses." 



According to Xenophon (Anabasis, VIII, 6, 7), there were around 

 Cyrus about six hundred cavalry, the men all armed with breastplates, 

 greaves, and helmets, except Cyrus, who presented himself for battle 

 with his head unprotected; 2 and all the horses of the cavalry that were 

 with Cyrus had defensive armor on the forehead and breast. Here, 

 then, for the first time is the question of real cavalry; horse and man 

 being completely armored, and this new equipment being a sign of a new 

 mode of tactics, while in the age of Herodotus the horse of the Persians 

 was not yet caparisoned. 3 Though the term " cataphracti " is not used 

 by Xenophon, the institution described by him is either the forerunner 

 of the latter or identical with them. 



In Cyropcedia (VI, 4, 1), besides the frontlets and breastplates of 

 the horses, single horses with greaves, and chariot horses with plates 

 upon their sides are mentioned; so that the whole army glittered with 

 brass, and shone with purple garments. Abradatas equipped the horses 

 of his chariot with brazen mail (ibid., VI, 1, 51). 4 In the same work 

 (VII, 1, 2) it is on record that all those who were with Cyrus were fur- 

 nished with the same equipment as himself; purple coats, brazen armor, 

 brazen helmets, white crests, short swords, and each with a spear made 

 of the timber of the corneil-tree. Their horses were armed with brazen 

 forehead-pieces, breastplates, and shoulder-pieces which simultaneously 

 served as thigh-protectors to the rider. The rider allowed his feet to 

 hang down behind these flank-pieces which safeguarded his thighs. 



1 E. Bulanda, Bogen und Pfeil bei den Volkern des Altertums, p. 61 (Wien, 1913). 



2 On the armor of Cyrus see Xenophon (CyropcBdia, 1, 4, 18; vn, 1, 2). 



3 The Massagetae (Herodotus, i, 215), who in their costume and mode of living 

 resembled the Scythians, had their horses caparisoned with breastplates of bronze, 

 while gold was utilized for the bridles, the bit, and the cheekplates. The fact that 

 the horses in the army of Xerxes were not caparisoned is practically demonstrated 

 by the Nisaean charger of the Persian noble Masistius, which received an arrow in its 

 flank (Herodotus, ix, 22). Neither were the horses of the Assyrians caparisoned, 

 who possessed only mounted infantry, not cavalry in the strict sense. 



4 Compare also vi, 2, 17. 



