CHAP. I.] 



EARLIEST CAVALRY. 



19 



bows made of cane, and cimeters.^ The Libyans, clad in 

 leathern garments, made use of javelins hardened by fire, 

 and all rode in chariots. The Arabians, in cloaks fast- 

 ened with a girdle, with long bows carried on the right 

 side — all rode camels ; they were stationed in the rear, 

 away from the rest of the cavalry, that the horses might 

 not be frightened. 



In this war the cavalry were used, as in later times, 

 for in the battle or skirmish at Mount Cithseron, just 

 before the battle of Plataia, the Persian cavalry charged 

 in squadrons, their general Masistius, in a golden cuirass, 

 leacling the advance.^ When he fell, his followers, 

 attempting to recover the body, cheering one another on, 

 pushed their horses to the charge, and a sharp struggle 

 of a hand- to hand character took place. 



At this time, also, the Persian cavalry understood 

 equally well the skirmishing order of fighting, and used 

 their missile weapons with great effect in harassing and 

 wearying their enemy.^ Mardonius sent his mounted 

 archers to attack the Grecian army shortly before the 

 battle of Platsea. They rode up shooting arrows and 

 hurling javelins, but refusing to enter into a close 

 engagement. This action of the Persian cavalry caused 

 great distress to the Greeks, and compelled them to 

 move their position, and appears to have been the cause 

 of bringing od the battle of Plataea. 



About 100 years later, when Xenophon served in 

 Persia under Cyrus the younger, the scythed chariots 

 were still in use as well as the cavalry both heavy armed 

 and light. At this time the leaders or generals used both 

 chariots and saddle-horses. Cyrus was riding in his 

 chariot when the enemy were reported advancing; he 

 immediately leaped from the car, put on his breastplate, 

 and mounting his horse, took his javelin in his hand, 

 and gave the orders for the marshalling of his army.* 

 He had 600 chosen cavalry as a body-guard, all armed 

 with breastplates, thigh-pieces, and helmets ; their 

 horses had defensive armour on the forehead and breast, 



Herodotus, vii. 84 to 87. ^ jbij. ix. 20 to 24. 

 49, 50. * Xenophon, Anabasis, i. 8, 3. 



8 Ibid. ix. 



2 



