Image of African Carthaginian cavalryman found

[guy]

Cástulo slate found in Linares in 1976.© Junta de Andalucía (EL PAÍS)

 

The Iberian necropolis in Estacar de Robarinas, Spain is famous for its archeological finds. Among the finds was an image on a horseman thought to be Iberian in origin. New studies suggest, however, that that the horseman was African in origin, possibly one of the Numidian or Mauritanian cavalry that sided with Carthage during the Second Punic War.

 

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The horseman’s portrait was found broken into four pieces in a necropolis dedicated exclusively to warrior tombs, a place where numerous swords and daggers were also found. All weapons had been ritually folded or broken to prevent second use.

The spears held by the horseman in the portrait were very appropriate in his homeland, notes the study, since they consisted mostly of flat areas, “where this type of warrior moved with three spears and stones in leather bags.” They did not use swords, helmets or any other type of weaponry, “since their objective was to excel with the agility of movement in the pursuit and then in the retreat. The points of their javelins could be impregnated with poisonous substances.” For this reason, the African horsemen never formed a shock force, because their tactic consisted of dashing towards the enemy until they came within a few meters of them, throwing their javelins, and then withdrawing. Their objective was to provoke skirmishes and to chase down enemies in disarray.

Therefore, says the researcher, “the rider from Cástulo is undoubtedly African.” Perea dates the plate to the late 3rd century BC and believes that the warrior reflected in it “possibly was one of those who besieged the fort of Cástulo, in Roman hands since the summer of 212 BC.” “During the siege”, continues the author, following the story chronicled by the Roman historian Livy, “when the Romans were on the verge of victory, Masinissa’s Numidian cavalry arrived, managing to tip the scales in favor of the Carthaginians, killing Scipio, who died near Cástulo, in one of the skirmishes, when an [enemy] spear was stabbed into his thigh, causing a mortal wound.”

 

Study sheds light on mysterious mounted warrior from Africa who fought the Roman legions (msn.com)

Edited December 16, 2022 by guy