Let slip the oxen of war!

 

A unit of Sumerian chariots, ready to trample the enemy...

Today’s post is chariot-centric. Perhaps the most distinctive part of a Sumerian army, these ox-drawn ‘war wagons’ represented the pinnacle of 4^th Millennium military equipment, and one of the first attempts at shock-and-awe tactics in warfare. No self-respecting commander could possibly be seen without one. The best representation of Sumerian chariots comes from the Royal Standard of Ur:

Chariots on the Royal Standard of Ur. Like in Egyptian art, the artist has attempted to represent the complete object and so the chariot is shown in a mixture of profile and front-on view; what seems like a double-curved side panel would actually have been the front of the chariot. The rein rings are likewise shown sideways to demonstrate their shape.

(c) British Museum

Other chariot depictions show a two-wheeled version. It is sometimes said that these were used for reconnaissance, but there is no primary evidence to support that:

There is some disagreement that chariots were actually used in battle, rather being used to convey commanders and nobles onto the battlefield, where they would fight on foot. However, the Standard of Ur refutes this somewhat, as do contemporary accounts – one text tells of Ur-Luma of Umma having to abandon 60 chariots during his retreat following a loss to the army of Lagash, and so they were clearly used in quite some numbers.

So, what better way to round off my first Sumerian division than a big block of chariots?

As with many aspects of Sumerian military equipment, the exact materials used to make chariots are unclear, as none have survived - itself an indicator of the materials used. Interpretations vary between a wooden frame and leather panels to a more lightweight reed and wicker construction, these being far more plentiful than trees in the marshes of Southern Mesopotamia. I’ve plumped for a contrasting dark and light brown scheme, more for the visuals than anything else, but I guess it could be interpreted as either set of materials (thus staving off potential controversy!). 

Accompanying this final unit to round off the division is a commander, perhaps Ur-Luma, Entemena or one of the other Sumerian kings. Although the same figure as for the chariot troops, I went for a slightly more elaborate scheme here, with red and blue barding rather than the red-and-white of the main unit, a simple way to show off the additional wealth that having textiles dyed in two colours would require.

The irregular chariots are an absolute joy to paint, and are packed full of detail. There will definitely be more of these to come...

Until next time!