WAR CHARIOT OF THE PERSIANS 25 



Spartans had occupied Decelea and suffered their 

 heavy loss. 



Alcibiades, in the third century B.C., had many 

 horses, and in the sixth book of " Thucydides " he 

 tells us in his speech that he sent into the lists 

 no less than seven chariots, adding that " no 

 other man ever did the like " ; and later he goes 

 on to mention that he won the first, second and 

 fourth prizes. 



Apparently Alcibiades knew his world, and 

 if so it would seem that his world was not 

 unlike the world we know to-day, for in another 

 passage he sententiously yet philosophically tells 

 us that we "must not expect to be recognised 

 by our acquaintance when we are down in the 

 world ; and on the same principle why should 

 anyone complain when treated with disdain by 

 the more fortunate ? " 



This particular sentence is according to the 

 translation of " Thucydides " by the late Professor 

 Jowett, who leaves us to infer what we please 

 concerning the sociological views held by 

 Alcibiades. 



Among the first to employ war chariots with 

 scythes intended to mow down the enemy were 

 the Persians, if historical records are to be trusted, 

 and we read that the chariots they used in the 

 battle of Cunaxa, in 401 B.C., were provided with 

 sharp blades, while in after years the people of Syria 

 had war chariots with spears as well as scythes. 



