Quote Originally Posted by Ichon View Post
Most Persian/eastern cavalry carried a bow- for Cataphracts there were long periods the bow was more secondary weapon with seperate companies of more lightly armored lancers being the main bowmen and the Cataphracts job to drive home a charge.
For certain time periods, yes. Which is reflected in EB's Parthian roster.


The more exposure the Persians had with Scythians and steppe cultures it seems they adopted the bow more often.
You got it the wrong way around. The Persians were bowmen (including HAs) right from the start - even in Achaemenid times.
Unless of course you mean the specific Arsacid and Sassanid dynasties. They just adjusted their tactics and armaments to whatever enemy they had to fight. Sometimes that means reverting to neglected traditions...