The Seven Great Monarchies Of The Ancient Eastern World, Vol 4: Babylon: The History, Geography, And Antiquities Of Chaldaea, Assyria, Babylon, Media, Persia, Parthia, And Sassanian or New Persian Empire; With Maps and Illustrations.Rawlinson, George
History
The Seven Great Monarchies Of The Ancient Eastern World, Vol 4: Babylon: The History, Geography, And Antiquities Of Chaldaea, Assyria, Babylon, Media, Persia, Parthia, And Sassanian or New Persian Empire; With Maps and Illustrations.
On the subject of the Babylonian military costume our information is
scanty and imperfect. In the time of Herodotus the Chaldaeans seem to
have had the same armature as the Assyrians--namely, bronze helmets,
linen breastplates, shields, spears, daggers, and maces or clubs; and,
at a considerably earlier date, we find in Scripture much the same
arms, offensive and defensive, assigned them. There is, however, one
remarkable difference between the Biblical account and that given by
Herodotus. The Greek historian says nothing of the use of bows by the
Chaldaeans; while in Scripture the bow appears as their favorite weapon,
that which principally renders them formidable. The monuments are on
this point thoroughly in accordance with Scripture. The Babylonian king
already represented carries a bow and two arrows. The soldier conducting
captives has a bow an arrow, and a quiver. A monument of an earlier
date, which is perhaps rather Proto-Chaldaean than pure Babylonian, yet
which has certain Babylonian characteristics, makes the arms of a king
a bow and arrow, a club (?), and a dagger. In the marsh fights of
the Assyrians, where their enemies are probably Chaldaeans of the low
country, the bow is the sole weapon which we see in use.
The Babylonian bow nearly resembles the ordinary curved bow of the
Assyrians. It has a knob at either extremity, over which the string
passes, and is thicker towards the middle than at the two ends; the bend
is slight, the length when strung less than four feet. [PLATE XXIII.,
Fig. 2.] The length of the arrow is about three feet. It is carefully
notched and feathered, and has a barbed point. The quiver, as
represented in the Assyrian sculptures, has nothing remarkable about
it; but the single extant Babylonian representation makes it terminate
curiously with a large ornament resembling a spearhead. It is difficult
to see the object of this appendage, which must have formed no
inconsiderable addition to the weight of the quiver. [PLATE XXIII., Fig.
3.]
Babylonian daggers were short, and shaped like the Assyrian; but their
handles were less elegant and less elaborately ornamented. They were
worn in the girdle (as they are at the present day in all eastern
countries) either in pairs or singly. [PLATE XXIII., Fig. 3.]
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