The Parthian shot is a light cavalry hit-and-run tactic made famous by the Parthians, an ancient Iranian people. While performing a real or feigned retreat at full gallop, the horse archers would 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 composite bow and his body was twisted around. As the stirrup had not been invented at the time of the Parthians, the rider relied solely on squeezing pressure from his legs to stay mounted and guide his horse.
Pro tip: don't chase down horse archers.
What makes it worse is that the Romans would form into a testudo to defend themselves from the arrows, but every time they did, the Persian heavy cavalry would charge and scatter them. So there was really nothing to do except sit there and die one way or the other.
In which time period are we here?
The Late Republic!
I just googled the battle of Carrhae.
Holy shit
