Reconsidering the Origin of the Scythed Chariot

Abstract

This article challenges the current scholarly consensus that the scythed chariot was developed by the Persians for use against Greek hoplites. Closer examination of the historical record reveals that the scythed chariot was a specialized device deployed only under specific battlefield conditions and used against all types of infantry and cavalry. Reviewing the information provided by Xenophon’s Cyropaedia and Ctesias’ Persica in the context of the evolution of chariotry in the ancient Near East, I argue that the most plausible origin for the scythed chariot is in the Neo-Assyrian period.