Talk:Scythed Chariot

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No sources are given for thia article. The suggestion of an Indian origin is interesting but probably false.

There is no suggestion that real scythed chariots had rotating scythes

how exactly did Alexander's mouse trap work ?

If it is in the shape of a U , whats the point the horse will simply not go in to the U due to it's fear of the spears . Surely it would just run off , thus it may be a good defense but it will not destroy the chariot .

The idea of any individual or group of individuals willingly charging into the opposition lines on a chariot, scythed or not should be thouroughly considered before being applied. A chariot which charges into a phalanx isnt going to end up as anything but a pile of rubble, and its crew will without doubt be corpses. Darius use of scythe chariots at Gaugamela might be looked at in a different light. For example as a cheap way to distrupt the opposition, chariots had been ousted from consistent use a long time prior to Gaugamela. If the scythe chariot is being used it is likely being used disposably. The crew who are not strapped down are not going to stay in the chariot when it makes contact with enemy lines. If anything the scythe is a counter measure to the infantry stepping out of the way of the incoming chariot. There is also the possibility that the chariot was unmanned, it would be just as effective at distrupting the enemy lines. If old, lame horses or otherwise unable to be ridden ones were effectivly blinkered or blinded and whipped into motion towards the enemy line it would be just as useful as an armed crew making contact.