Osprey Publishing Home
- Home
- OSPREY PUBLISHING
- Period
- Ancient Warfare
- The Numidians 300 BC–AD 300
The Numidians 300 BC–AD 300
You must sign in to add this item to your wishlist. Please sign in or create an account
Description
The Numidian light cavalry were among the best-known horsemen in the ancient world: riding without saddles or bridle, carrying only hide shields for defense and clutching a handful of light javelins, they were renowned for their darting attacks, swift retreats, and skirmishing prowess. Yet, as much as they were respected by their allies and enemies, they were unfairly derided for their indiscipline, their perceived lack of culture, and their fecklessness, and dismissed as uncivilized, nomadic barbarians from beyond the fringes of the cultured, settled Mediterranean world. The famous portrayal of Numidian horsemen on Trajan's Column, of barefoot riders in simple tunics, astride tiny ponies, reinforces this view, and is the image that is almost universally reproduced.
Recent scholarship, however, has shown that there is far more evidence for the armour and equipment of the Numidians than hitherto assumed. The carved stone shields and cuirasses that punctuate the decorative friezes of the stone 'altars' at Kbor Klib and Chimtou in North Africa are confident representations of Numidian panoplies, not captured Carthaginian armour as has previously been argued. In this book, this research is presented alongside a close examination of various ancient texts which reveals that the Numidians also fielded infantry, slingers, archers, and even war elephants in conflicts across the Mediterranean, including Spain, Greece, northern Italy, and Thrace. All of these troops are brought to life in original colour artwork, complemented by chapters on their weapons and equipment, history, tactics, and organization.
Table of Contents
Historical Background
Numidian Forces
Appearance and Clothing
Weapons and Equipment
Conclusion
Select Bibliography
Plate Commentaries
Index
Product details
Published | Jan 21 2021 |
---|---|
Format | Ebook (Epub) |
Edition | 1st |
Extent | 48 |
ISBN | 9781472842206 |
Imprint | Osprey Publishing |
Illustrations | Colour plates; black & white illustrations. |
Series | Men-at-Arms |
Short code | MAA 537 |
Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
About the contributors

Resources
Book Vote
Tell us what titles you would like to see published by Osprey, then vote for your favourites in our monthly book vote!