Slitherine

Hi,

I am about to buy (and paint) a Early Achaemenid Persian army, based on Darius I. 25-28mm figures.
One of the colourful parts of this army is the Heavy Chariots. I can only find one relief of Darius I in his chariot, here.
http://www.livius.org/da-dd/darius/darius_i_t11.html
 
He seems to be in a 2-h chariot. The later scythed chariots are used by DariusIII. There must be more info, as the army list allows for heavy chariots, specifically.
I did find some websites with references to the use of chariots by Darius' son Xerxes, possibly supplied bij Indian satrapies or Western (Lydian) satrapies, such as:
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~ancientp ... g_frm.html

But maybe Darius used chariots in the Assyrian/Babylonian tradition.
Anyway, does anybody have a suggestion or references to the type and use of heavy chariots by Darius I ? Any / all feedback is welcome.
 
Next, how to model them. I am considering buying scythed chariots and use them without the scythe and add 1-2 archers to each vehicle.
Would anyone recommend a manufacturer that makes a suitable 25mm chariot? Is 1 or 2 archers right? Any chariot runners?
Would these figures be dressed in the Persian way, or more likely, Indian / Babylonian?
 
Jan-Chris

JanChris wrote:Hi,

I am about to buy (and paint) a Early Achaemenid Persian army, based on Darius I. 25-28mm figures.
One of the colourful parts of this army is the Heavy Chariots. I can only find one relief of Darius I in his chariot, here.
http://www.livius.org/da-dd/darius/darius_i_t11.html
 
He seems to be in a 2-h chariot. The later scythed chariots are used by DariusIII. There must be more info, as the army list allows for heavy chariots, specifically.
I did find some websites with references to the use of chariots by Darius' son Xerxes, possibly supplied bij Indian satrapies or Western (Lydian) satrapies, such as:
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~ancientp ... g_frm.html

But maybe Darius used chariots in the Assyrian/Babylonian tradition.
Anyway, does anybody have a suggestion or references to the type and use of heavy chariots by Darius I ? Any / all feedback is welcome.
 
Next, how to model them. I am considering buying scythed chariots and use them without the scythe and add 1-2 archers to each vehicle.
Would anyone recommend a manufacturer that makes a suitable 25mm chariot? Is 1 or 2 archers right? Any chariot runners?
Would these figures be dressed in the Persian way, or more likely, Indian / Babylonian?
 
Jan-Chris

Darius' personal chariot was really only a transport or command post.
I think there is some reference to Libyan and Indian chariots in Herodotus' history. They would probably look like other contemporary Indians and Libyans, rather than looking like Persians. The Persians likely didn't impose uniforms on their subject troops. I'm not aware of any Persian "national" chariots, other than the scythed variety. Xenophon says Cyrus the Great turned all his chariots into scythed chariots, but there are reasons to doubt Xenophon's claims. Truly nobody knows. You may have to weigh the evidence and decide for yourself.

I've ordered some Persians from: http://www.sgmm.biz/
They are a bit "chunky" but they have a good selection.
Old Glory makes some Persian chariots, and I own a few models of them but I cannot recommend them. I think they are very ugly.
I have not ordered from or seen:
http://www.1stcorps.co.uk/online_shop/i ... th=166_167