Cavalry name

[Marcvs75]

[Mythos_Ruler]

What of the word "Hyppikon"? Is that an accurate word for some type of cavalry? A "generic" word? Or completely incorrect?

[Giannis K. Hoplite]

Generic for cavalry. It would've been very correct. The oposite is "peziko" infantry.

[hoplite14gr]

5th century B.C. from Korinthos Museum
http://s160.photobucket.com/albums/t178 ... C02510.jpg

Kind regards

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Wow, is that an aspis?

[hoplite14gr]

Yeap and if you combine it with all the depiction of shileded horsemen from 700 B.C. our view of the Greek cavaly must be revised.

Kind regards

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Why? There are other depictions of horsemen carrying the aspis, is there not?

[hoplite14gr]

Yes they are.
Which means that the shield on horseback predated 4th century B.C.

Kind regards

[PMBardunias]

This makes the likelyhood of Tarentines having Aspises, as I believe, much higher.

[hoplite14gr]

Small image. Corinthian pottery 450 B.C.
From an auction.

Kind regards

[PMBardunias]

how do you fight on horseback with a large heavy Aspis without a saddle?

Carefully

you would need some more supporting evidence to show that these depictions are "cavalry" in any proper sense of the word....
The idea that 'shielded 'Greek cavalry existed but then later somehow 'forgot' how to use shields, is rather unlikely.......

I have at least one archaic example of a shielded cavalryman spearing a lion. No one says they fought well from horseback, which would explain why they got off and a lighter, unshielded cavalry dominated. Remember that you only need fight as good as your foes, and if they are rich blokes playing horsey, your fine. I don't believe that these rather late depictions are accurate- rather they may reflect a remembrance of an earlier reality.

[hoplite14gr]

Who can prove beyond reasonable doubt that the the horseman's "hoplite like" shield is as heavy as the "vatican shield"?
Who can prove that all shields were identical to the "vatican shield" ?
Who can disprove that the horsemen did not carry alighter version of the shield?

Kind regards

[Giannis K. Hoplite]

The one that can prove that the Vatican shield,with its bronze covering and solid wooden planks,was not heavy at all. No heavier than other shields of similar size. A proper reconstruction of the vatican shield would give you a much lighter shield than any reproduction,and certainly more manageable.
Khaire
Giannis

[PMBardunias]

Not only can use use one aspis from horseback, you can use two! And you don't need a saddle because you can stand! :lol: