Horses were introduced to Greece from the north and by Mycenaean times were being used in teams of two to pull chariots; there is no evidence that they were ridden until almost the end of the period.
In West Asia, whence they were introduced, chariots were extensively used in cavalry warfare; infantry played a minor role, fighting in areas unsuitable for chariots, for example, and besieging towns. Although the rugged Greek terrain was unsuitable for great chariot charges, chariots were used even here as the main armed forces, providing a fighting platform for elite soldiers.
Some footsoldiers could also ride to battle on the chariot, dismounting on arrival. Their role was to counter any opposing footsoldiers, protect their chariot and deal with any enemy whose chariot became disabled. Chariots were a status symbol: descriptions in Linear B texts indicate that they were often decorated, sometimes with ivory.
Built of wood and basketry, they had two four-spoked wheels. The latter are often listed separately in palace inventories and it is clear that the chariots were frequently dismantled for storage. With the advent of chariotry came the development of a Mycenaean road network.
