Greece -- History -- To 146 B.C.; History, Ancient
86. This is the manner of fighting of these men, and they were arrayed
next to the Persians. The Medes had the same equipment as their men
on foot, and the Kissians likewise. The Indians were armed in the same
manner as those of them who served on foot, and they both rode horses
78 and drove chariots, in which were harnessed horses or wild asses. The
Bactrians were equipped in the same way as those who served on foot,
and the Caspians likewise. The Libyans too were equipped like those who
served on foot, and these also all drove chariots. So too the Caspians
79 and Paricanians were equipped like those who served on foot, and they
all rode on camels, which in swiftness were not inferior to horses.
87. These nations alone served 80 as cavalry, and the number of the
cavalry proved to be eight myriads, 81 apart from the camels and the
chariots. Now the rest of the cavalry was arrayed in squadrons, but the
Arabians were placed after them and last of all, for the horses could
not endure the camels, and therefore they were placed last, in order
that the horses might not be frightened.
88. The commanders of the cavalry were Harmamithras and Tithaios sons of
Datis, but the third, Pharnuches, who was in command of the horse with
them, had been left behind at Sardis sick: for as they were setting
forth from Sardis, an accident befell him of an unwished-for kind,--as
he was riding, a dog ran up under his horse's feet, and the horse
not having seen it beforehand was frightened, and rearing up he threw
Pharnuches off his back, who falling vomited blood, and his sickness
turned to a consumption. To the horse however they forthwith at the
first did as he commanded, that is to say, the servants led him away
to the place where he had thrown his master and cut off his legs at the
knees. Thus was Pharnuches removed from his command.
89. Of the triremes the number proved to be one thousand two hundred and
seven, and these were they who furnished them:--the Phenicians, together
with the Syrians 82 who dwell in Palestine furnished three hundred;
and they were equipped thus, that is to say, they had about their heads
leathern caps made very nearly in the Hellenic fashion, and they wore
corslets of linen, and had shields without rims and javelins. These
Phenicians dwelt in ancient time, as they themselves report, upon the
Erythraian Sea, and thence they passed over and dwell in the country
along the sea coast of Syria; and this part of Syria and all as far as
Egypt is called Palestine. The Egyptians furnished two hundred ships:
these men had about their heads helmets of plaited work, and they had
hollow shields with the rims large, and spears for sea-fighting, and
large axes: 83 the greater number of them wore corslets, and they had
large knives.
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