Sassanian Persian Cavalry - Cataphract - Mounted Archery - Lance

[FatalRamses]

okay, the first 7secs made me very uncomfortable :D

[DarthFanta]

That is not a cataphract. The rider looked authentic, but the problem lies with the horse. A true cataphract rides a equally armoured horse.

[arsacesofconcobar]

@DarthFanta Not always. The clibanarius (Lit. ovenman) is thought to be derived from the Old Persian term for "neck-guard bearer" which would designate an armoured horsemen. Mielczarek furthermore delineates that the term "cataphract" was applied to anyone that was by Graeco-Roman standard a heavy cavalryman.

Horse-trappings became a famous attachment to the term following the ubiquitous battle of Carrhae 53BCE. Furthermore, replicating a barding for the horse costs a lot of money.

[arsacesofconcobar]

@DarthFanta Though I must confess that an armoured horse would have been a most impressive sight. The cost and knowledge of replicating it, though, seems to be through the roof.

This is why we have seen so few cataphract re-enactors. The few attempts of replicating the barding for the horse have either been incomplete trappings or trappings that look compromised (Again, due to costs).

[trenchwire]

@arsacesofconcobar Yes it's funny how we modern First Worlders are still for the most part as poor as peasants when it comes to getting decent medieval military equipment!

[elgostine]

excellent, however are you sure your repicatng a cataphract? its just ive seen images of a 3rd century cataphract also possessing a lamellar shirt on top of maile.

but you seem to look the part of a lesser, but still quite heavy cavalry, and i STILL wouldnt want to be on the recieving end.