Cataphracts development

[hoplite14gr]

I was reading "Greece and Rome at war"-P, Konolly I think (not sure about the author).
There was an interpretation of a heavy armored lancer in a black and white design that according to the author it was based on a Pergamen statue older than 200 B.C.
I feel though that the Skythians are possibly the first to use heavy armored cavalry but I cannot very sure.
There are Classic Era burial findings from south Italy that show increased metal horse-protection but they are ussually atributed to a warlord fearful for his mount not as proof of extra heavy cavlary.
Kind regards
Stefanos