11-21-2007, 11:49 AM
I may be mistaken but I think you'll find the early Scythian saddles did not have a true tree running longitudinally, but had wooden arches at pommel and cantle (front and rear), joining padded sections.
The gold figures atop the comb from the Scythian burial at Solokha, which is late 5th or early 4th century BC, shows no signs of a saddle on either horse.
A Scythian silver amphora from Certomlyk, which I am pretty sure is dated to the 4th century BC, shows a Scythian horse with what appears to be a thick pad or blanket with a thicker padded part forming a rudimentary pommel .
Xenophon, writing in the mid 3rd century BC says the saddle blanket should be designed to provide a good seat for the rider while not injuring the horse's back, which suggests something with a little more structure than a simple blanket was becoming available - perhaps a blanket with padded rolls or sections?
The Kazanluk tomb paintings, just after Alexander's day, show a very simple saddle with a slightly (but definitely) raised pommel.
Phil Sidnell
The gold figures atop the comb from the Scythian burial at Solokha, which is late 5th or early 4th century BC, shows no signs of a saddle on either horse.
A Scythian silver amphora from Certomlyk, which I am pretty sure is dated to the 4th century BC, shows a Scythian horse with what appears to be a thick pad or blanket with a thicker padded part forming a rudimentary pommel .
Xenophon, writing in the mid 3rd century BC says the saddle blanket should be designed to provide a good seat for the rider while not injuring the horse's back, which suggests something with a little more structure than a simple blanket was becoming available - perhaps a blanket with padded rolls or sections?
The Kazanluk tomb paintings, just after Alexander's day, show a very simple saddle with a slightly (but definitely) raised pommel.
Phil Sidnell
