Scythed Chariots

[ravenflight]

Hi All,

I'm painting up a scythed chariot for a friend, and am at the 'horses' stage.

I'm wondering, what's the standard (if any) for scythed chariots.

I have done matched horses for something like a General's chariot, thinking that it would be more about presence than performance.

When it comes to scythed chariots, I'd think it was more about disposibility than nearly any other factor. You're not going to throw your prize beast into the harness of a scythed chariot knowing that it's almost certain to be killed.

So, does anyone have any opinions? Would there be some kind of status symbol in a scythed chariot team akin to the kamikaze pilots of WWII?

Any thoughts appreciated.

[stecal]

I'd say yes, they would be matched. Chariot stables were raising, training and racing chariots for sporting events long after their battlefield use was over. Where else would these speciality trained horse teams come from? You cant really just take any cavalry mount or cart horse and team it up 3-4 wide in a chariot harness.

[ravenflight]

I'd say yes, they would be matched. Chariot stables were raising, training and racing chariots for sporting events long after their battlefield use was over. Where else would these speciality trained horse teams come from? You cant really just take any cavalry mount or cart horse and team it up 3-4 wide in a chariot harness.

What I mean by matched may not be what you mean. I mean that they would be the same colour etc. Looks pretty impressive when your King of Kings (or whatever) arrives with perfectly flawless black horses (or white). I think it would be less important with scythed chariots. Sure, they would have to be chariot horses, but ones that have 'had their day'... any old ones who have 'had their day' would do (knowing that it's likely to be their last charge) - or do you disagree?

[batesmotel]

It's not at all clear that scyther chariots were consider throw aways despite how they are treated by wargame rules. Certainly the way that Xenophon describes their proper use in his Cyropaedia, they weren't seen that way. Especially given that much of the effect of scythed chariots would be their terror effect, anything that added to that would enhance that effect would be desirable and matched chariot horses would probably contribute to that effect.

Chris

[Vespasian28]

Nick Sekunda in his Montvert book on the Seleucid Army describes scythed chariots as a "terror weapon" and I think appearance has a lot to do with that. Hence the rather fearsome, and pretty with matched horses, illustration by Angus Mcbride.
No real evidence as such as the quote from Livy about Magnesia in the book only addresses the various nasty pointy bits rather than a colour scheme.

[ravenflight]

Hi All,

Ok, so I took on board all that you said and whilst I may not agree necessarily one way or another on the disposable nature of the horses, I decided that on the wargames table it would look best if they were matched. I'm very happy with the result. I went with a black and red colour scheme. It looks like something that would belong in the Waffen SS and probably totally ahistorical, but who cares right?

"Never get the facts get in the way of a good paintjob" - Ravenflight.

[Vespasian28]

As long as it hasn't actually got swastikas and lightning SS motifs I'm sure it will be absolutely fine.

[ravenflight]

As long as it hasn't actually got swastikas and lightning SS motifs I'm sure it will be absolutely fine.

Well, I COULD paint over them if you think it's too much...

(Jk)

[Vespasian28]