Neo-Assyrian Sab Sharri

 

Here's two mixed spearmen and bowmen units of Neo-Assyrian Sab Sharri from the archives. They're also a mix of ranges with mostly Foundry command in the front rank, a Hinchliffe officer and spearmen and Eureka bowmen in the rear ranks. 

One of my most useful reference books for this period and earlier is the WRG book by Nigel Stillman and Nigel Tallis, Armies of the Ancient Near East 3,000 BC to 539BC, which is unfortunately out of print. I read on the Society of Ancients forum recently that this will be back in print soon, perhaps with an updated bibliography like Duncan Head's classic Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars 359 BC to 146 BC. Good news for all the biblical fans out there!

Neo-Assyrians

Allied Arab Camel Riders

Four Horse Four Crew Chariots

Armoured cavalry - Qurubuti sha pithalli

Sab Sharri screened by slingers

Sab Sharri

Guard heavy infantry screened by slingers

I've been looking at my Neo-Assyrian army from the reign of Ashurbanipal (668-627 BC) with the Mortem et Gloriam army list, Later Sargonid Assyrian. I have enough painted figures to easily make up a Pacto (small) sized army of about 3500 points but need a few more command stands, one will be a four horse chariot and the other an armoured cavalry base of three figures. I'm planning a game with them against an all cavalry Kimmerian or Early Scythian army but have to finish painting the noble cavalry and more horse archers.

I'm tempted to get a 28mm Kushite army as opponents for the Neo-Assyrians, Eureka have some nice archers and javelinmen, as depicted in palace reliefs of Ashurbanipal and illustrated in the Stillman and Tallis WRG book Armies of the Ancient Near East (p.111):

https://www.eurekamin.com.au/index.php?cPath=126_876_148&sort=3a

I already have quite a large unpainted Nubian army and many of these figures could be used, the cavalry and chariots are more tricky but conversions from spare New Kingdom Egyptian figures are an obvious possibility.

Guard heavy infantry

Kisir Sharuti screened by slingers

Kisir Sharuti

Allied Kimmerians or Scythians

Armoured cavalry

Overview of army with four commands

Scythian Horse Archers

Here are some Scythian horse archers, they are a real mix of ranges - Hinchliffe Miniatures, Warlord Games, Wargames Foundry, Old Glory and a single A&A figure. The Hinchliffe figures are single piece castings that I bought and painted way back in the mists of time! I must admit to a nostalgic fondness for these figures and have rebased them and touched them up a bit.

The Foundry figures are the nicest range but I quite like the Old Glory and Warlord figures as well. I have two six figure units of the Foundry Scythian nobles to paint then I should have enough for a game of Chariots Rampant with the Scythians. I really like horse archer armies even though they don't do very well in most rule sets (often the table size is an issue) and also have Parthians, Huns and Mongols.