DBA Armies

This list covers the period of the Aegean Palace civilization of Crete and Greece based on the centres of Knossos, Pylos and Mycenae. Charioteers in 2-horse chariots can be a mounted warrior in the very heavy and complete bronze plate Dendra panoply armed with a long spear (HCh) or lighter warriors in quilted armour armed with javelins or bow (LCh). That bows were used by Mycenaean charioteers, despite frequent statements to the contrary, is probable. However, although large numbers of arrows are listed in tablets found by archaeologists in the Knossos armoury, these are not closely associated with those listing chariots. Chariots either fought en masse in a front line (as recommended by the conservative Nestor in the Iliad) or were spaced in groups between the spearmen and on their flanks. Most spearmen carried figure-of-eight or tower shields and fought in close formation with long 2 handed spear, but at Pylos some used small round shields and short spears. One fresco shows Libyans with javelins, but these might be hunters. Reference: Armies of the Ancient Near East N. Stillman & N. Tallis.