[PREVIEW] 'Legacy of Alexander' preview 1 - Macedonian Army (Antigonid dynasty)
I. CAVALRY
The cavalry spear in general use throughout the late Classical and Hellenistic periods was called the 'xyston'.
It is generally thought that Hellenistic cavalry began to use shields only after the Galatian invasions of Greece, which began in 279 BC.
These were wooden, sometimes covered in hide or felt, circular in shape, and large – over a metre (39–40in) in diameter, covering the rider from neck to thigh.
Macedonians wore a distinctive type of cloak known at the time as the 'Macedonian' cloak. Semi-circular in shape, it ended in an approximately even line at the hem.
Macedonian national dress was the 'kausia', a kind of felt beret.
Philoi / Hetairoi ('Friends' and 'Companions')
--- guards ---
'Companions' (hetairoi) and/or ‘friends’ (philoi) were official styles, awarded by the Macedonian kings to their closest companions.
In Alexander's day, each carried a xyston, and wore a bronze muscle cuirass or linothorax, shoulder guards and Boeotian helmets, but bore no shield.
https://i.imgur.com/wASVjM4.jpg
Hiera ile ('Sacred squadron')
--- elite cavalry regiment ---
Livy (42.66.5) tells us that during the battle of Kallinikos the Macedonians lost 24 of their finest cavalrymen from the squadron 'which they call sacred' – 'sacra ala'
https://i.imgur.com/st2WlQa.jpg
Hippeis Thessalikoi
--- Thessalian heavy cavalry ---
https://i.imgur.com/GQ5wgsN.jpg
Sarissophoroi
--- Macedonian cavalry ---
They had a longer version of the cavalry lance ('xyston'), but for scouting duties they carried javelins. They were amongst the most versatile of the Macedonian cavalry.
https://i.imgur.com/iYe7uD8.jpg
Tarantinoi
--- Tarentine light cavalry ---
It was unarmored and normally equipped with a shield and javelins, which it hurled at the enemy, evading any attempt to engage in close combat.
https://i.imgur.com/6H0Cr96.jpg
Prodromoi
--- light cavalry ---
They were usually equipped with javelins, and a sword. Sometimes they wore either linen or leather armour, as well as bronze helmets.
https://i.imgur.com/rYrMhC2.jpg
II. INFANTRY
Macedonian shields appeared in two sizes. This is confirmed by three bronze shields with diameters of 74cm (28.35in), 73.6cm and 66cm (26in) found on the territory of modern Greece (Pandermalis (2000) xxi), and more recent finds from Staro Bonce with diameters of 74cm, 72cm, and 66cm (Juhel, 2007). These shields were all originally inscribed with the name of Demetrios (standing for Demetrios I Poliorketes), around a starburst in the centre of the shield. This inscribed border is a detail omitted on most coins.
The 'pelte' was a shield smaller than the standard hoplite shield, and without its most distinctive feature – its offset rim, at least according to Aristotle (fragment 498, ed. Rose). In the Classical period, 'peltai' were made of leather or wood, but in the Hellenistic period they were also made of bronze, at least peltai of the Macedonian type. This is confirmed by an Athenian inscription mentioning bronze Macedonian 'peltai'.
Basilikoi hypaspistai (Royal Hypaspists)
--- guards ---
https://i.imgur.com/yTJEcb1.jpg
Peltastai
--- elite regiments of phalanx ---
Their equipment was lighter than that of the phalangites:
'Pelte' - their bronze peltai shields were smaller.
https://i.imgur.com/A8ntMkD.jpg
Agema
--- elite regiment of phalanx ---
'Agema' was one elite regiment of the 'peltastai' units.
https://i.imgur.com/0mhOMc7.jpg
Chalkaspides
--- first phalanx type ---
Like the rest of the infantry, the chalkaspides, who made up the main body of the Macedonian phalanx, were organized into units of a thousand men.
Reinach (1910: 444–6) who first established that the larger bronze shields, about 74cm (28.35in) in diameter, were used by the Macedonian regiment known as the 'chalkaspides', so he dubbed this shield the 'chalkaspis'. Although this word is not found in any ancient text relating to Macedonian practice, his suggestion may be quite sound.
https://i.imgur.com/fTz4F7I.jpg
Leukaspides ('white shields')
--- second phalanx type ---
https://i.imgur.com/iIu11cg.jpg
Argyraspides ('Silver Shields')
--- hypaspists type ---
Before 301 BC they were Macedonian regiment. After The Battle of Ipsus they went to the side of the coalition of Cassander, Lizymach and Seleucus Nikator.
https://i.imgur.com/aHn0Q3w.jpg
Hoplitai (Greek hoplites)
--- spear infantry ---
https://i.imgur.com/cv7GMzl.jpg
Thureophoroi
--- spearmen ---
https://i.imgur.com/B06wxcc.jpg
Achaean epilektoi
--- 'thureophoroi' type ---
https://i.imgur.com/3efylOT.jpg
Agrianians/Agrianes
--- elite light infantry ---
Agrianes were the elite light infantry of the Macedonian army. They were often used to cover the right flank of the army in battle, being posted to the right of the Companion cavalry, a position of considerable honour.
https://i.imgur.com/6poPU8E.jpg
Akontistai
--- skirmishers ---
https://i.imgur.com/eyD8XsP.jpg
Sphendonetai
--- slingers ---
https://i.imgur.com/ZlY5AJ8.jpg
Toxotai
--- archers ---
https://i.imgur.com/ykOtmcz.jpg
Cretan archers
--- elite mercenary archers ---
https://i.imgur.com/dGfurtZ.jpg
III. SHIELDS
https://i.imgur.com/0ayL37L.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/zStVkVd.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/6x3ztGj.jpg
IV. SCREENS
https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.n...BE187B132005C/
https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.n...362CD0F873CAC/
https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.n...2606929DE4C79/
https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.n...E28676D3E0336/
SOME SOURCES
Agios Athanasios tomb
https://live.staticflickr.com/4388/3...f3d43b1f_b.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/4418/3...8b3a0c19_b.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/4390/3...10d72f07_b.jpg
Lyson and Kallikles tomb
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...de04a5a180.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...8d7206343c.jpg
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Re: [PREVIEW] 'Legacy of Alexander' preview 1 - Macedonian Army (Antigonid dynasty)
