Greek Cavalryman Illustration

[MeinPanzer]

Very good work.
been a long-bladed hopilte-type sword.

It's very clear from Xenophon's "On Horsemanship" and from contemporary evidence that the Xiphos was rarely used by cavalrymen. The kopis was a much better slashing weapon, and cavalrymen would be slashing with swords most of the time anyway.

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.

Only there are no contemporary depictions of such a saddle being used by Macedonian cavalry well into the first century BC. It's very clear that cavalrymen stuck to the Iranian style shabrack.

And for those of you wondering about prodromoi using xysta, see the Kinch tomb painting.

[Zenodoros]

Very nice, mate, very nice indeed.

It's a very light complaint, but I think his visible leg appears a bit flat. I can see what you're trying to do, though I think it could use a little seperation from his tunic, and some darker shading on the saddle.

Other than that it is almost perfect, from what I see. How many of Alexander's troops do you plan to do? Like I said in your hypaspist thread, I think your skills would be excellent depicting some Persian Wars and Archaic soldiers, but take your time. I'm loving your work so far.

Do you get your photo sources from anywhere in particular?

[Tarbicus]

i'd say the horse looks slightly small and the legs a bit short.

[url:x5q9lk3p]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andalusian_horse[/url]
Ancient horses used by Greek and Roman cavalry were smaller than modern horses IIRC, and some were pretty much ponies (has this changed recently?).

[url:x5q9lk3p]http://www.trajan20.freeserve.co.uk/page10.html[/url]

[Et tu brute]

Thanks Jim ?

[Tarbicus]

It's all been discussed a number of times here. Here are some links:
link from old RAT
link from old RAT
link from old RAT

[Kallimachos]

Outstanding artwork Johnny, thanks for sharing.

[Et tu brute]

It's all been discussed a number of times here. Here are some links:
link from old RAT
link from old RAT
link from old RAT

Cheers for the links!

[Nicholas Gaukroger]

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?

I guess that would depend on the relative weight of the spearhead and any butt spike, plus whether the spear shaft was tapered in anyway. For example the much earlier Assyrians are often shown holding spears about 2/3 of the way back from the head but the spears have large round "pommels" at the pther end which presumably act as a counterweight.

All that said I note that the Sasanid example does appear to be held roughly half way