• Koguryo and Balhae
  • Anak Tomb No. 3
Eastern Wall of the Eastern Gallery - Procession – Cavalrymen 2
TitleEastern Wall of the Eastern Gallery - Procession – Cavalrymen 2
Eastern Wall of the Eastern Gallery - Procession – Cavalrymen 1
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This is a detailed view of the Gaemamusas (iron-armored lancers) depicted on the eastern gallery wall in Anak Tomb No. 3. Of the two groups of four Gaemamusas that appear in the procession, this group is depicted in the bottom line of the procession. The term Gaemamusa refers to both the soldier and the horse outfitted in heavy iron armor. The Gaema Corps was the first unit to enter a battle assigned with the important task of disrupting the enemy's rank-and-file (horizontal rows (ranks) and vertical columns (files) of infantry). The Gaema Cavalry was in its prime under the rule of King Gwanggaeto the Great. King Gwanggaeto the Great destroyed the Gaya confederacy through an extremely effective use of the Gaema Cavalry. The heavily-armored Gaema Cavalry was the modern-day equivalent to tanks in the Koguryo era that struck fear in the hearts of enemies.
The Gaemamusas (iron-armored lancers) depicted in the image can be seen wearing helmets adorned in extravagant feather decorations and Chalgaps (lamellar armor) made of small iron plates laced together. While the large-plate construction of Pangaps (laminar armor) limited movement, Chalgaps provided the wearer with a great deal of mobility due to the nature of this armor’s design. Although heavy infantry only wore armor on their upper bodies, the Gaemamusas wore armor on their lower bodies as well. The Gaemamusas' horses were also dressed in helmets and armor for protection. Despite the excellent mobility provided by Chalgaps, the sheer weight of the armor meant that these cavalrymen weren't nearly as agile as the infantrymen. This meant that if the cavalrymen fell from their horses, their combat abilities would be significantly reduced. Hence, the horses were equipped with armor to minimize the risk of such situations. These horses convey a sense of sluggishness in their motion in contrast to the horses of other military attachés. The artist's meticulous attention to detail is remarkable.

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