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Hi there
I was just wondering if anybody had a Classical source that references the use of 'carts' by the Kyrenians for transporting their hoplites to the battlefield to prevent fatigue?

This appears in a number of army lists - probably all stemming from the DBM lists - but I was just wondering whether it had any actual historical justification for this comment.

Thanks
Mark
 
NB: I've just seen (& read) the thread back in Dec 2024 - The Army of Kyrene during Thibron's war (324-321 BCE) - and Duncan's question about two or four wheeled carts. However, there didn't appear to be any consensus or ultimate conclusion to the question he posed. But the reference to Aeneas the Tactician was helpful.

"Of the people of Cyrene and Barca and certain other cities the story runs that they made their rescue expeditions over long wagon-roads in four- and in two horse vehicles (ἐπὶ συνωρίδων καὶ ζευγῶν); and when they had reached the appointed place, and the vehicles had been arranged in order, the hoplitai alighted, and, forming at once in ranks, attacked the enemy with unimpaired strength."
- Aeneas Tacticus, Poliorketika XVI.14

Many thanks Duncan - much appreciated.

I've come across a similar reference, but this time regarding the movement of Cham armies in carts, in South-east Asia.

Quaritch-Wells in his book Ancient South-East Asian Warfare, p.60 (quoting Groslier, op.cit, p.87, who is himself quoting his own translation of an Old Khmer inscription) states:
 
'An inscription referring to the Cham invasion of A.D.1177 speaks of the Cham king [Jaya Indravarman IV] "transporting his army on ratha". Since ratha means carts not chariots, the question arises as to whether [Cham] infantry were sometimes saved some of the ardours of the journey in this manner.'

As Jaya Indravarman IV was coordinating his land forces with a rapid surprise (& ultimately successful) naval attack on the Khmer capital at Angkor, and we know that there is a good Khmer military road that directly links Champa with Angkor (although there is some debate as to whether this particular military road was first built by the Khmer King Jayavarman VII, during his reign 1181-1220, or whether he just repaired and upgraded an existing road) it does sound eminently plausible.

In addition, bas-relief carvings at both Borobudur (c.C8th) and Penatara Temple (c.C12th-15th) in East Java show large four-wheeled carts with armed men in them. These are separate from the four-horse chariots that are also depicted. Whilst we cannot be certain whether these depictions are part of the historical or mythological/religious epic carvings, it does raise an interesting question (to me anyway) about how widespread such a practice might have been, especially in exceptionally hot climates.

Large multi-wheeled wagons or carts are also depicted at The Bayon in Cambodia as well. But these are specifically relating to a element of the story of the Buddha's Life. So they may not be solid evidence in this instance.

Again, many thanks for a speedy reply.
Mark

Quote from: Aetius-last-of-the-Romans on July 01, 2025, 04:55:44 PM'An inscription referring to the Cham invasion of A.D.1177 speaks of the Cham king [Jaya Indravarman IV] "transporting his army on ratha". Since ratha means carts not chariots, the question arises as to whether [Cham] infantry were sometimes saved some of the ardours of the journey in this manner.'

I'm not sure, pace the eminent Q-W, that "ratha means carts not chariots"; doesn't it, like che in Chinese, mean both, or wheeled vehicles in general?

https://www.sanskritdictionary.com/?q=ratha
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratha

Not that this affects your main line of argument at all, really.