Here are some Eureka Miniatures, Neo-Assyrian guard cavalry that I've just finished painting. The Arab Camel riders I painted quite a while ago and the Foundry Chaldean slingers I added a couple of bases to bring them up to strength for a twelve figure unit. I have one four horse chariot to finish then I should be able to play a Chariots Rampant game with my Neo-Assyrians.
There is an interesting summary of the evolution of Neo-Assyrian cavalry in the Chariot Wars WAB supplement by Nigel Stillman (p.57):
The cavalry arm of the Assyrian army evolved rapidly during the Assyrian Empire. As the empire expanded, the horse breeding regions of Anatolia, Iran and Urartu (Armenia) came under Assyrian control, providing the army not only with better mounts but expert riders as well. The Assyrians fought the Cimmerians and Scythians and recruited many of them into the regular standing army and the royal guard. Wearing Assyrian uniforms, they became indistinguishable in the sculpted scenes, but written records give the names and origins of many soldiers, showing that cavalry was recruited from all the regions renowned for horsemanship. Initially Assyrian cavalry consisted of mixed units of unarmoured mounted archers and shield bearers, and the later held the reins for the archer while he took aim. By the time of Tiglath-Pileser III (745-727 BC), riders discarded their shield and consisted of mixed units of armoured archers and spearmen... By the time of Ashurbanipal (668-627 BC), the royal guard cavalry were equipped with spears and bows, wore armour and rode mounts protected by felt bards like those worn by the chariot horses.
