Scythed Chariots

[Banzai!]

So how do scythed chariots work?

If the blades are (way, way) behind the horses and horses don't charge into close order formations, how are they supposed to cut up a formation in real life? Do they just circle in front of the formation or something?

[Tyrfingr]

I believe the scythed chariots had their blades attached to the axis of the wheel, and the role was not to charge into close order formation. It was more to run through the formation, hoping that most infantry would step aside and then, haha, be caught by the blades.

[Watchman]

Straight out scare factor, I'd imagine. A guy with spear on horseback coming at you is unnerving enough; some big rattling thing with blades sticking out all over the place, pulled by two armoured horses, coming at you full tilt ?
A Whole Another Level.

Judging by the way Alex had his pikemen open passages in the ranks for the things to hurtle through without doing damage, I'd say he wasn't confident even his pikemen were going to keep their nerve and do the smart thing ie. hold rank (which stops horses cold; they plain refuse to run into solid big obstacles, like closely packed bodies of men standing firm)...

[SwissBarbar]

don't they have blades in the front?

[Novellus]

don't they have blades in the front?

I don't believe that the chariots had blades in the front. As Watchman and Jaerteken pointed out, the blades would be on the axis of the wheels, meaning that the true damage would be dealt to soldiers trying to dodge the chariots. It's the fear of being trampled by the hooves and horses that made people try to veer to the sides. Chariots shouldn't be thought of as lawnmowers that chewed people up. Think of them as snowplows that pushed people out of the way.....and killed them with whirling blades of death! :laugh4:

[Watchman]

Though, sticking something mean-looking and pointy to the horse yoke to make the whole thing look that much scarier to anyone it's bearing down on would hardly have been out of character for the general concept of the vehicle...

Terror weapon is terror weapon.