Greek Cavalryman Illustration

[Johnny Shumate]

Here is a Greek cavalryman in Alexander's army. Please leave suggestions and comments..!
Johnny
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/ ... /hey2b.jpg

[hoplite14gr]

Very good work.
You seem to have created a light horseman.

Some suggestions:

His sword could have been a long-bladed hopilte-type sword.
By the time of Alexander the Skythian saddle would be completely known to Greece. The saddle was 2 rolls of felt, one in front of him and the other behind the rider. One Kourgan tomp revealed wooden reinforcements on one 4th century saddle.

Alternatively he could carry javelines.

Kind regards

[Ioannis]

Excellent work!

As Stefanos said, you depict a prodromos, a light skirmisher.

A suggestion: I would expect him to carry javelins and not a xyston.

[Robert Vermaat]

Oh - good!

A xyston? That long and still overarm?

[M.H. White]

There was some sort of light, spear armed calvary that carried the xyston,was there not?



and by the way

/high five to TNArcher! Woot for another Tennessean!


And another aside:

TNarcher, have you ever done an illustration of a Companion? If so, could you link it? If not, I'd suggest you do one!

[Et tu brute]

Nice one! If i'm being really picky i'd say the horse looks slightly small and the legs a bit short. Or maybe i'm just seeing things :lol: I hope not as I ride all the time so I should know what a horse looks like lol

[Nicholas Gaukroger]

Nice.

As far as I can recall the Makedonian prodromoi carried the xyston.

And for Vortigern I don't see a problem with the overarm use - no different from Khusrau II depicted at http://www.livius.org/a/iran/taqebostan/cave1-1.JPG Also IIRC the Strategikon says that the Roman cavalry held their kontarions at shoulder height in the manner of the "fair haired" races.

[Ioannis]

Of course prodromoi did carry a xyston. However, I believe that the use of javelins was more common. But again, I'm into prehistoric warfare!

[Anonymous]

Johnny, you need to tighten up the reins! You've done a great job of making the rider really look as if he's moving forward, (slight forward inclination, leg back and on the accelerator) so you really ought to depict the horse at canter or gallop.

[Robert Vermaat]

And for Vortigern I don't see a problem with the overarm use - no different from Khusrau II depicted at http://www.livius.org/a/iran/taqebostan/cave1-1.JPG Also IIRC the Strategikon says that the Roman cavalry held their kontarions at shoulder height in the manner of the "fair haired" races.

You'd need to be very strong to wield that overarm, at least that's waht I assume from wielding my much shorter hasta. I mean, the xyston must be held in the middle for balance to wield it like that, true?

[Comerus Gallus]

Holly crap! the best!
Can you make King Philip at horse?

[M.H. White]

Holly crap! the best!
Can you make King Philip at horse?

That would be awesome!

He must look like Val Kilmer.
I thought Val Kilmer as Philip II was one of the best things about Alexander. Granted, there werent many good things.

[Mythos_Ruler]

Right or wrong, I'd love to see you paint Philip in the Vergina Cuirass and steel helmet riding a nice stout steed.

[Johnny Shumate]

Thanks for all the comments..!

I'll give the idea of Philip some serious thought. What I want to do is illustrate all of Alexander's troops and one of Alex himself. One soldier at a time..!

An illustration of Philip, the man who started it all, would be cool..!

Thanks again,

Johnny

PS-Who has the photos of the reenactor in the iron breastplate..?

[Comerus Gallus]

Thanks for all the comments..!

I'll give the idea of Philip some serious thought. What I want to do is illustrate all of Alexander's troops and one of Alex himself. One soldier at a time..!

An illustration of Philip, the man who started it all, would be cool..!

Thanks again,

Johnny

PS-Who has the photos of the reenactor in the iron breastplate..?

I got few, the book of his Tomb, all details, his reconstructed profile, etc, plus I have Philip helmet myself!... I shal pm you, soon