Parthian shot

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The Parthian shot was a military tactic employed by the Parthians, an ancient Iranian people. The Parthian archers, mounted on light horse, would feign retreat; then, while at a full gallop, turn their bodies back to shoot at the pursuing enemy. The maneuver required superb equestrian skills, since the rider's hands were occupied by his bow, leaving only pressure from his legs to guide his horse.

You wound, like Parthians, while you fly, And kill with a retreating eye. —Samuel Butler, An Heroical Epistle of Hudibras to His Lady (1678)

This tactic was used by most Eurasian nomads, including the Scythians, Huns, Magyars, Turks and Mongols, and it eventually spread to armies away from the Eurasian steppe, such as the Byzantine cataphracts and Sassanid clibanarii.

A notable battle in which this tactic was employed (by the Parthians) was the Battle of Carrhae. In this battle the Parthian shot was a principal factor in the Parthian victory over the Roman general Crassus.

Parting shot / Parthian shot

By way of metaphor, "Parthian shot" is also used to describe a barbed insult, delivered as the speaker departs.

With which Parthian shot he walked away, leaving the two rivals open-mouthed behind him. —Arthur Conan Doyle, A Study in Scarlet (1886)

The term "parting shot," used similarly, may be a folk etymology of "Parthian shot," meaning the term was corrupted through common parlance, but there is little firm evidence to support this claim.

See also

• Feint
• Caracole, a similar cavalry maneuver
• Cantabrian circle

References

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Last updated on Wednesday January 02, 2008 at 22:31:52 PST (GMT -0800)
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