Assyrian chariots are exceedingly short:  but, apparently, they must have been of a considerable width.  They contain two persons at the least; and this number is often increased to three, and sometimes even to four. [PLATE XCI.  Fig. 4.] The warrior who fights from a chariot is necessarily attended by his charioteer; and where he is a king, or a personage of high importance, he is accompanied by a second attendant, who in battle-scenes always bears a shield, with which he guards the person of his master.  Sometimes, though rarely, four persons are seen in a chariot—­the king or chief, the charioteer, and two guards, who protect the monarch on either side with circular shields or targes.  The charioteer is always stationed by the side of the warrior, not as frequently with the Greeks, behind him.  The guards stand behind, and, owing to the shortness of the chariot, must have experienced some difficulty in keeping their places.  They are evidently forced to lean back-wards from want of room, and would probably have often fallen out, had they not grasped with one hand a rope or strap firmly fixed to the front of the vehicle.

There are two principal types of chariots in the Assyrian sculptures, which may be distinguished as the earlier and the later.  The earlier are comparatively low and short.  The wheels are six-spoked, and of small diameter.  The body is plain, or only ornamented by a border, and is rounded in front, like the Egyptian and the classical chariots. [PLATE XCII., Fig 1.] Two quivers are suspended diagonally at the side of the body, while a rest for a spear, commonly fashioned into the shape of a human head, occupies the upper corner at the back.  From the front of the body to the further end of the pole, which is generally patterned and terminates in the head and neck of a ball or a duck, extends an ornamented structure, thought to have been of linen or silk stitched upon a framework of wood, which is very conspicuous in the representation.  A shield commonly hangs behind these chariots, perhaps closing the entrance; and a standard is sometimes fixed in them towards the front, connected with the end of the pole by a rope or bar.

[Illustration:  PLATE 92]

The later chariots are loftier and altogether larger than the earlier.  The wheel is eight spoked, and reaches as high as the shoulders of the horses, which implies a diameter of about five feet. [PLATE XCII., Fig. 2. ] The body rises a foot or rather more, above this; and the riders thus from their elevated position command the whole battle-field.  The body is not rounded, but made square in front:  it has no quivers attached to it externally, but has, instead, a projection at one or both of the corners which seems to have served as an arrow-case.  This projection is commonly patterned, as is in many cases the entire body of the chariot, though sometimes the ornamentation is confined to an elegant but somewhat scanty border.  The poles are plain, not patterned,