Out today are the first releases for the Hittites in our Bronze Age range from Cutting Edge Miniatures – the Hittite Chariot Squadron, Hittite Spearmen and Hittite Levy Archers. We also have Later Levy Javelinmen suitable for Hittites, Sea Peoples and other armies.
These three new metal boxed sets mark the first releases for our Battle of Kadesh focus. You’ll have seen part one of Nigel Stillman’s look at this, the largest chariot battle of all time, in our last newsletter – for those that missed it you can read it here.
Suffice to say, New Kingdom Egyptians will be with you very soon!
The Chariot Squadron contains three Later Hittite or other central Anatolian 3-man, 2-horse chariot. Each crew comprises a driver, and 2 spearmen, one of whom may have fought on foot as a runner.
These chariots were slightly heavier in construction than other 2-horse chariots of the period, not least because it is likely that the wheel axle was further forward from the rear of the chariot cab, perhaps to support the weight of an extra crewman? Alternatively the chariot can be crewed by just 2 men and with a javelinman on foot acting as a chariot runner.
Egyptian scenes of the Battle of Kadesh show Hittite chariots with spear armed charioteers, such as these, though it is possible that some were bow armed.
Horses were now generally armoured with bronze scales as with the horses with this chariot.
These Spearmen can be used as Hittite Infantry of the Empire period or those of other Central Anatolian states, such as Arzawa and Pitassa.
Hupshu or peasant Archers levied into the city-state armies of Syria and Canaan, and those of Mitanni, Kassite & Middle Babylonia, Middle Kingdom Assyria and the Hittite Empire.
The figures are also suitable for use in Early Hebrew (Habiru) armies for tribes such as Benjaminites as well as in other Desert Nomad armies of the Late Bronze Age.
These are the peasant levy or Hupshu levied into the armies of the City-States of Syria and Canaan, those of Mitanni, Middle Kingdom Assyria, Kassite or Miiddle Kingdom Babylonia and the Hittite Empire.
They can be used in Bedouin Desert Nomad armies such as those of the Midianites, Amalekites, early Aramaeans, (Akhalamu), Kaldu, Sutu and Hanu, who were also known by the Egyptians as Shosu or Shasu (also known as Edomites & Moabites). Also suitable for Habiru (early Hebrew) tribes such as Issacharians.
These figures are also suitable as Shekelesh or Teresh in Sea People armies, and also later, as skirmishers in Philistine & Later Canaanite armies of the Iron Age.
