Typical late Hittite war chariot with three riders...
...a driver, a stabby guy and the general himself. Hard to see the General behind the other two...must be crowded in there!
My fourth Syrian chariot...first three were all painted. I used a cowhide design on this one and I like the look of it a lot. Going to use that more from now on.
I have two other command chariot models in the Biblical spur of the lead mountain. I was thinking about selling them off but now I think I may use them for brigade commanders later on.
I knew I wanted some kind of a design on the umbrella. Researching Hittite symbols led me to all kinds of strange discoveries. Many Hittite motifs have remained in use in Europe into very recent times. Polish/Austrian style two headed eagles, Annunaki winged sun symbols, swastikas and a thunder cult undoubtedly related to the Nordic cult of Thor all featured prominently in Hittite culture. I was also surprised to learn that the Hittites were the first Europeans to use iron. Thank God for War games. Without them I probably never would have learned so much about these very interesting people.
I wanted a two headed eagle for the general's umbrella but didn't trust my hand, going instead with this wonky sort of off center swastika which I felt was interesting and even a bit Flintstonian. If I can work up the skill and courage to try a two headed eagle on another command figure's umbrella I'll probably make that guy my general and demote this fellow to the status of a brigade commander. Don't tell him that, though.
So what's left for my Hittite army? Quite a bit, really. Two squadrons of four chariots each, 18 more Syrian levy archers, 1 more unit of Syrian spear men. And I'll need a dozen or so chariot riders and about twenty auxiliary skirmishers. So I'm about half way there....
Great job and I love that free hand design work.
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