Sacred Band of Astarte
Heavy Cavalry(0.6.7)Side / Back
Short description
Delivering a powerful charge, the elite, lavishly equipped, Sacred Band Cavalry were ranked amongst the world's finest heavy cavalry.
Description
The Sacred Band Cavalry were modelled on the heavy cavalry of Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic kingdoms of the east. Their equipment, training and discipline was such that they were ranked among the world's finest heavy cavalry. They were shieldless, and fought with a lance, the xyston (sometimes called a dory), some 7-10 feet long, with a bronze butt-spike. The xyston was able to be used as a thrusting weapon with two hands, yet was also light enough to be manipulated with one hand in close combat, when a cavalryman needed to strike to his rear and flanks. When the xyston broke, the rider sometimes used the butt-spike as a weapon.
The Sacred Bank Cavalry typically tried to strike the enemy riders in the face and chest with the lance. They fought in close order and delivered a shock charge to the enemy.
These were formidable cavalry, lavishly equipped, with cuirasses of hardened linen (linothrax) worn over their white tunics, plumed helmets of the Montefortino-style, greaves and a slashing cavalry sword made in the Spanish fashion. They were particularly well mounted, on large, strong horses, raised on the agricultural estates around Carthage - good horse breeding country. Their superbly bred horses were barded with fine lacquered lamellar, and so unlike other Punic cavalry, were armoured.
They were the military elite of Carthage. As Carthaginians were exempt from military service, the Sacred Band comprised of men who had volunteered for a military life. They were Carthaginian citizens of the highest rank; the landed aristocracy and their kinsmen.