2.] This he commonly planted on the ground, supporting it, perhaps, with a crutch, while he shot his arrows from behind it.

Occasionally, he added to this defence the protection of a coat of mail, composed either of scale armor, or of quilted linen, like the corselets of the Egyptians.

Armor of the former kind was almost impenetrable, since the scales were of metal--iron, bronze, or sometimes gold--and overlapped one another like those of a fish.
The Persian cavalry was armed, in the early times of the monarchy, almost exactly in the same manner as their infantry.

Afterwards, however a considerable change seems to have been made.

In the time of the younger Cyrus cavalry soldiers were very fully protected.