Twitter discussion

[RAWROMNOM]

@EBTeam Enjoy my deep, sonorous voice. - abou

Listening to Abou is like a lullaby from Morgan Freeman.

[Ibrahim]

speaking of which: what is the evidence that the driver even stood on the axle? it is kind of weird and dangerous (even for a chariot) to do that?

[Arjos]

Iirc it's how Caesar described them (better if Brennus weighs in on this), it allowed them to shift the balance in such a way to perform sudden turns. Needless to say it required incredible skills, fitness and a good deal of recklessness :P

BTW forgive my faulty english, they stood on the pole and yoke

[Brennus]

From Caesar, Comentarii de Bello Gallico, describing his first invasion of Britain:

"Their mode of fighting with their chariots is this: firstly, they drive about in all directions and throw their weapons and generally break the ranks of the enemy with the very dread of their horses and the noise of their wheels; and when they have worked themselves in between the troops of horse, leap from their chariots and engage on foot. The charioteers in the mean time withdraw some little distance from the battle, and so place themselves with the chariots that, if their masters are overpowered by the number of the enemy, they may have a ready retreat to their own troops. Thus they display in battle the speed of horse, [together with] the firmness of infantry; and by daily practice and exercise attain to such expertness that they are accustomed, even on a declining and steep place, to check their horses at full speed, and manage and turn them in an instant and run along the pole, and stand on the yoke, and thence betake themselves with the greatest celerity to their chariots again."
BG IV:XXXIII

[Grimmy]

speaking of which: what is the evidence that the driver even stood on the axle? it is kind of weird and dangerous (even for a chariot) to do that?

Back in that time, display (as in doing the outrageously dangerous things, just because you could) was a rather large part of a warrior's reputation in some cultures.

The phrase "you can't do that, you might get hurt" hadn't been invented yet, let alone forced into being the law of the land.

[moonburn]

speaking of which: what is the evidence that the driver even stood on the axle? it is kind of weird and dangerous (even for a chariot) to do that?

because they can ? in 200 years how do you think people will look at mixed martial arts american football or even car and motorcylce races ? it´s a manly thing to put oneself in danger (and a great adrenalin rush because bck then you didn´t had stimulants so thats was one of the few things you could do to get that rush the other was wierd mushrooms)

besides even today we get basejumpers parachuters and a all set od adrenalin junkeys so whats the diference ? if on top of that if you could get the girl and the respect of your group after it it´s worth the risk

[Ibrahim]

From Caesar, Comentarii de Bello Gallico, describing his first invasion of Britain:

"Their mode of fighting with their chariots is this: firstly, they drive about in all directions and throw their weapons and generally break the ranks of the enemy with the very dread of their horses and the noise of their wheels; and when they have worked themselves in between the troops of horse, leap from their chariots and engage on foot. The charioteers in the mean time withdraw some little distance from the battle, and so place themselves with the chariots that, if their masters are overpowered by the number of the enemy, they may have a ready retreat to their own troops. Thus they display in battle the speed of horse, [together with] the firmness of infantry; and by daily practice and exercise attain to such expertness that they are accustomed, even on a declining and steep place, to check their horses at full speed, and manage and turn them in an instant and run along the pole, and stand on the yoke, and thence betake themselves with the greatest celerity to their chariots again."
BG IV:XXXIII

OK, I see where you go it from. thanks!

One thing though: from reading the whole thing, I can't help but noticing the part after it:

and manage and turn them in an instant and run along the pole, and stand on the yoke, and thence betake themselves with the greatest celerity to their chariots again

wouldn't this imply that normally the chariot driver would have sat or stood on the main area of the chariot, and only occasionally went on the yoke and axle area, to show off or change controls? or am I misunderstanding this?

Back in that time, display (as in doing the outrageously dangerous things, just because you could) was a rather large part of a warrior's reputation in some cultures.

The phrase "you can't do that, you might get hurt" hadn't been invented yet, let alone forced into being the law of the land.

that wasn't what I asked. I just asked for evidence, and noted that it was unusual and particularly dangerous* (chariot driving in general is that way anyhow). I did not intend to convey that this was unfeasable, or that I was puzzled by why they did it. but thanks.

* the actual reason being that under normal circumstances, drivers elsewhere didn't typically do that: they drove the chariot from the cart itself.

[Brennus]

wouldn't this imply that normally the chariot driver would have sat or stood on the main area of the chariot, and only occasionally went on the yoke and axle area, to show off or change controls? or am I misunderstanding this?

Most likely, but it doesn't look as cool

[Arjos]

To add, from the account it's clear that for manouvering standing on the pole and yoke was critical. Therefore since it's not possible to create an animation of the driver running back and forth, having him standing of the pole is the best compromise with M2TW's engine :)

[Moros]

The real question is why would one field chariots when one could field camels!?