The Numidian light cavalry were among the best-known horsemen in the
ancient world: riding without saddles or bridle, carrying only hide
shields for defense and clutching a handful of light javelins, they
were renowned for their darting attacks, swift retreats, and
skirmishing prowess. Yet, as much as they were respected by their
allies and enemies, they were unfairly derided for their indiscipline,
their perceived lack of culture, and their fecklessness, and dismissed
as uncivilized, nomadic barbarians from beyond the fringes of the
cultured, settled Mediterranean world. The famous portrayal of
Numidian horsemen on Trajan's Column, of barefoot riders in simple
tunics, astride tiny ponies, reinforces this view, and is the image
that is almost universally reproduced. Recent scholarship, however,
has shown that there is far more evidence for the armour and equipment
of the Numidians than hitherto assumed. The carved stone shields and
cuirasses that punctuate the decorative friezes of the stone 'altars'
at Kbor Klib and Chimtou in North Africa are confident representations
of Numidian panoplies, not captured Carthaginian armour as has
previously been argued. In this book, this research is presented
alongside a close examination of various ancient texts which reveals
that the Numidians also fielded infantry, slingers, archers, and even
war elephants in conflicts across the Mediterranean, including Spain,
Greece, northern Italy, and Thrace. All of these troops are brought to
life in original colour artwork, complemented by chapters on their
weapons and equipment, history, tactics, and organization.
Les mer
Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9781472842206
Publisert
2021
Utgave
1. utgave
Utgiver
Vendor
Osprey Publishing
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Digital bok
Forfatter