Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Cataphractus

Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary, and Greek Lexicon (Rich, 1849)

CATAPHRAC'TUS (κατάφρακτος). A heavy-armed cavalry-soldier (Sallust ap. Non. s. v. p. 556.), whose horse, as well as himself, was covered with a complete suit of armour (Serv. ad Virg. Aen. xi. 770.), like the scaled back of a crocodile (Ammian. xxii. 15, 16); more especially characteristic of some foreign nations; the Parthians (Prop. iii. 12. 12.), Persians (Liv. xxxvii. 40.), and Sarmatians (Tac. Hist. i. 79.), as shown by the illustration (Cataphractus/1.1) representing a Sarmatian cataphract, from the Column of Trajan.

2. Sisenna (ap. Non. l. c.) applies the same term to an infantry soldier, by which it is to be understood that he is armed cap-a-pie in heavy body armour, consisting of helmet, cuirass, cuisses, or thigh pieces, and greaves, as seen in the illustration s. OCREATUS.

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  Cataphractus/1.1