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A HISTORY OF CAVALRY. 



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of the first use of the war-chariot, although it is certain 

 that the account in Genesis (ch. xh., v. 43) 1715 B.C., 

 is the earliest historical evidence we have of the use of 

 the chariot for any purpose, as Exodus xiv. 9, is of their 

 use for purposes o£ war. 



Virgil and Pliny both attriljute their invention to 

 Erichthonius, the fourth king of Athens, who is said to 

 have died in 1437 B.C. This is contradicted by the 

 testimony of Moses, as to their use in 1715 and 1491 

 B.c.^ The Canaanites also used iron chariots in 1444 

 B.c.^ The Syrians used them against King David in 

 1037.' The Assyrians used Avar-chariots as far back as 

 the reign of Tiglath Pileser T., who lived about the year 

 1120 B.C.* The early representations of these chariots 

 show that at first they were small and low to the ground, 

 with wheels of six spokes. They were usually drawn 

 by two horses, sometimes by three, but never by four. 

 The third seems to have been attached with a thong or 

 rope on one side or the other, and must have been 

 intended as an extra or spare horse, to supply the place 

 of one that might be killed or disabled.® 



The Assyrians used the bow and arrows almost entirely 

 in their chariots,® two quivers, crossed diagonally, appear 

 on the outside of the body of the car, which is low, not 

 rising more than about three feet.^ The warrior or 

 archer had a charioteer who managed the horses, and if 

 a chief of distinction, had also an attendant who carried 

 a shield and protected him while he was using tiie bow. 

 In a few cases where the king is represented, or some 

 personage of very high condition, two guards are shown 

 protecting the monarch on either side with circular 

 shields.* A spear was also fixed in a socket in the side 

 of the chariot as a reserve weapon. The warriors seem 

 to have usually fought with their bows from the car, but 

 they sometimes alighted, and moved to the front of the 

 horses, to enable them to shoot their arrows with better 

 and steadier aim.^ The attendant in this case also 



' Judges i. 19. ^ Joshua xvii. 18. ^1 Chronicles xix. 



18. * Rawlinson, Ancient Monarchies, i. 423. ^ Ibid. i. 409. 



6 Ibid. i. 421. ^ Ibid. i. 413. « Ibid. i. 412. » Ibid. i. 421. 







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