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.
General
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