CHAP, n.] 



THE GREEK CAVALRY. 



31 



sixteen in front by four in depth: — Two "iles of 64 

 horses each formed an " epitarchie ; " two " epitarchies " 

 formed a " tarentinarchie " of 256 horses; two " taren- 

 tinarchies" formed a "xenagie" or "hipparchie" of 512 

 horses ; two " hipparchies " formed an " ephipparchie " of 

 1,024 horses; two '* ephipparchies " formed a "telos" 

 of 2,048 horses J two "telos" formed an "epitagme" of 

 4,096 horses. 



There was in use among the Greeks another species of 

 cavalry more lightly armed, called the " Greek," who 

 carried only the lance and the sword, and whose horses 

 Avere not protected with armour.^ They wore casques 

 similar to those worn by the Cataphractes, a corselet of 

 tanned leather or a coat of mail, a buckler, and boots 

 and spurs. 



The medium, or " Greek " cavalry, so called from being 

 the species most commonly used in Greece, were divided 

 into three different types, called " bopv<f)opoi," " KovTo<f)cpoi," 

 and *' \oyxo'f>^poi." These names arose from the dif- 

 ferences in the length or shape of the lances, and the 

 manner in which the different corps used them. They 

 were lightly armed, but sufficiently so to close with the 

 enemy in fighting with the lance and sword. Some of 

 them carried bucklers but not all.^ The Zopvj>opoL used 

 lances a little longer than those used by the Kovrojiopoi, 

 or \oyxo<f)opoi : the last two used shorter lances which 

 they used both for thrusting and throwing. There 

 was a cord attached to the shaft, so that after 

 throwing it the horseman could pull it back again for 

 further use. 



The " Tarentine," or light cavalry, were not regularly 

 organised. They were sometimes armed with javelins 

 and sometimes with bows and arrows. They charged 

 with the sword or battle-axe, carried a small buckler as 

 a defensive arm, and sometimes wore corselets of tanned 

 leather.* The lightest cavalry used darts or javelins 

 thrown from a distance ; and some were even trained to 

 throw missiles to the rear while in flight after the manner 

 of the Parthians. They never came to close quarters as 



> Humbert, 21. 2 Maizeroy, 69. " Duparcq, 48, 49, 51. 



