2.25 m high, carved on the inside of one of the main gates of
Hattusa, the sculpture that had so puzzled Charles Texier. The
warrior-god’s armaments clearly represent those of his mortal
worshippers. His head is encased in a leather helmet, to which
cheek- and neck-flaps are attached and at the back a long
plume. On the lower half of his torso, he wears a short kilt.
Hemayhave worn a shirt of mail, as perhaps indicated by the
wiry-looking coils on his upper torso. These coils have also been
interpreted as a thick mat of hair, but there are other indications
of a mail-shirt protective covering, including bits of scale-armour,
found in Hattusa.
Interestingly, the Hittite charioteers depicted in Egyptian relief
sculptures of the battle of Qadesh are all clothed in neck-to-ankle
sleeved garments. These garments were probably made of linen and
leather over which chain mail was sewn. Leather shoes with toes
upturned seem also to have been regulation issue for Hittite troops.
Basic defensive armament was provided by several types of shields,
the standard one made of leather stretched over a wooden frame,
large enough to protect the body from neck to thigh.
Hittite weaponry for infantrymen are represented by the battle-
axe which the warrior-god clasps in his right hand and a short
sword with curved blade which the god wears at his waist. Short,
ribbed stabbing swords with crescent-shaped pommel, some with
slighly curved blades, and longswords used for thrusting, were
standard issue to Hittite troops. Thefirst were particularly suitable
for close-in or hand-to-handfighting in mountainous terrain or
forested areas. The longsword was more effective in battles fought
on open ground, which the Hittites preferred and were better at, as
was also the long spear, more than 2 m in length, regular army issue
at all levels. Bows and bronze-tipped arrows were the principal
weapon of the chariotry.
CHARIOTS AND HORSES
Chariotry wasfirst used in campaigns after the horse was introduced
into the Hittite world, probably around 1600. Detailed information
about the preparation of Hittite horses for chariot combat is
172 WARRIORS OF ANATOLIA