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764 G. HERRMANN
PARTHIAN AND SASANIAN SADDLERY 765
Connolly also proved in field trials that it is relatively easy to vault into
saddle from either side, as described by Vegetius, even when wearing a
shirt weighing some 12 kg. in weight 52, Even more importantly, Corn
undertook experiments to try out the saddle with a shield and long slas
sword over a metre in length. “It immediately became obvious that not
would it be impossible to wield a sword of this size and weight without
saddle pommels, for the momentum would pull the rider off the horse, but
the pommels it was possible for the rider to slash out to the right, with the
of the sword reaching out almost two metres, and to use the left front po:
to pull himself back into the saddle with his left thigh. In fact the pommels v
performing almost exactly the same functions as stirrups in allowing the ridej
regain his position in the saddle’ .
The identification, reconstruction and trial of a four hom saddle as used in
west in the first century A.D. is a notable advance in the study of the histor3
saddles. Some such saddle with a form of restraint against which the rider cc
brace himself must, however, have been developed considerably earlier thai
first century AD. Indeed the impetus for the development of such a saddle
surely have been the introduction of heavy cavalry, that is by the beginnin
the Parthian period. Before that simple saddle blankets were used. The
Assyrian reliefs document that it was possible both to fire arrows and to
with the light lance of the day from saddle blankets . The magnificent
fourth century silver amphora from the Chertomlyk barrow  still shows oni
saddle pad in use, although the front has been rolled to give the rider s’
against which to brace himself. The chest strap and buckled girth strap
carefuliy recorded 56,
The saddles found in the Pazaryk barrows are of varying types but
considerably more developed than these saddle cloths . Those found -in
rows 1 and 2 consisted of two joined cushions, four wooden bows (two each
front and back of the cushions), a sweat cloth of felt and a felt covering.
saddle cushion is sewn together from two large pieces of leather, forming its
and bottom surfaces, and two small pieces, covering the back and front of
cushions, the saddle ‘arches’.” These cushions, which measured c. 50-58 cm.
length, were stuffed with deer-hair or grasses and quilted to keep the stuff
flat. “The finished cushions were sewn together along the edge of the pieces
leather forming the bottom covers, a margin of 5-8 cm. wide having been
free on the stuffed, sewn up cushions. They were so joined that between
stuffed parts was an area of leather (over the horse’s backbone) about 10
‘ide in front and about 6.5 cm. wide at the back. ... In addition to the central
‘un, the saddle cushions were held together by two relatively narrow straps,
,1 directiy over the front and back arches and fixed to the cushions by
,“ The thin felt saddle covers were the same shape as the cushions and
re fixed to the saddle at four points by thongs and by the wooden arch bow.
[ne fairly thick, felt sweatcioths were also the same shape and were sewn on
ander the saddle 58
Saddles from Barrow 5 were much the same as those from Barrows 1 and 2
cept for the addition of wooden spacers between the cushions at the front and
ck under the ‘arches. These may be the first step towards the future frame or
e of the saddle s Although more comfortable for both horse and rider, such a
idle would not have provided much support. It would, however, have
xvided a firm base to which supports -could have been added.
ks Mary Littauer notes, the introduction of comprehensive body armour for
rider together with an aimoured covering or trapper for the horse must have
ssitated changes in saddlery: “The long annoured trapper, reaching to below
horse’s beliy, would bave impeded the rider’s use of grip to secure his
ion on the horse while, at the same time, his own increased body armour
the wielding of a long lance would have made him more top-heavy and
ptible to loss of balance than ever before”
tšrmoured cavalrymen certainly formed part of the Parthian army by 54 B.C.,
en Plutarch records that Suren’s force against Crassus at Carrbae consisted of
1,000 mailed cavalrymen and many more light cavalrymen 61, They may
have been in use considerably earlier for remains of banded iron armour
u’ to that shown on later representations of cavalrymen have been found in
context dating to the second century B.C. at Ai Khanum u, The earliest
presentation of an armoured cavah’yman is probably the eroded relief at
situn, the “Gotarzes” relief, showing a combat between mounted knights u
date is disputed, but the relief is generally placed in the mid-first century
D. Unfortunately, few details survive because of its poor state of preservation.
The relief of an armoured knight at Sarpol-i Zohab is also usually dated to the
‘st century A.D. Despite the ende caning, it is possible to see, particularly on
erzfeld’s photograph taken in sunlight, a knob in front of the rider’s knee .
Ibis almost certainly represents the front horn of a homed saddle and may be
the earliest known, reasonably dated representation within Parthia.
fuliy armoured Parthian warrior, equipped with the two-handed lance, is
-oown on a late Pastjjian relief carved on one of the boulders at Tang-i Sarvak,