16 



A HISTORY OF CAVALRY. 



[PEKIOD I. 



is much more correct and graceful, and so much have 

 they improved in the management of their horses that 

 the attendants are no longer seen, but the soldiers control 

 their chargers unaided. The spearmen hold their reins 

 in the left hand and use the spear in the right, while the 

 mounted archer boldly lays his reins on his horse's neck 

 while he discharges his arrows ; the horses evidently 

 being trained to stand still or to continue at speed with- 

 out the use of the bridle. The collar sometimes is shown 

 and is sometimes wanting, which seems to intimate that 

 it began to be used, as already suggested, through the 

 horses beinsf temporarily detached from the chariots, 

 that it was retained at first from habit, and afterwards 

 simply for ornament, for it seems to have beci highly 

 decorated. 



The uniform of the horsemen is also improved. They 

 are weU clothed in tunics ornamented with a fringe 

 around the skirt, a broad belt round the waist, and 

 sometimes one across the shoulder bearing a short sword, 

 tight-fitting trousers with a laced boot and the pointed 

 helmet complete the dress.^ The arms are bare from the 

 elbow. Later, in the reign of Sennacherib, 705 B.C., the 

 cavalry were equipped with a coat of mail covering the 

 whole body, leather breeches, and jack-boots or greaves, 

 the costume being worn by both archers and spearmen.'"* 

 The archers used bows about four feet long, firing arrows 

 about three feet in length which were carried in a quiver 

 on the back. Sometimes the spearmen had bows which 

 were carried slung across the shoulder as a reserve 

 weapon in case of the spear being broken. 



In the reign of Essarhaddon, 681 B.C., the cavalry 

 bowmen were still further protected by large saddle- 

 cloths or coverings, which were united to a breastpiece, 

 and which extended to the rear, so as to cover the greater 

 part of the horse. This, which was made of hide or thick 

 felt, must have been a great protection against ordinary 

 missile weapons. 



Herodotus^ says that Cyaxares the Mede was the first 



' Rawlinson, Ancient Monarchies, i. 426, 

 ' Herodotus, i. lOJi. 



2 Ibid. 427. 



'^^/ 



