Ethipian Agema (or Guard)

**Fluvius Camillus** · 09-24-2009, 23:58

Hello!

I was wondering if this unit is still around! I encountered them in my pre1.0 Saba campaign. They were ethiopians if I am correct, wielded a two handed axe (with two blades) and had padded bright white armour. I dont know how accurate this description is but this is all i remember. They were recruitable by the Ptolemaioi and Saba, lvl 4 regional barrack or maybe 3...

This image is the closest to what I am describing. Their name was Ethiopikon Agema=ish

So are these units removed, taken out (like the Dosidataskeli) or still there? I have never encountered them anymore since then.

Thank you!

~Fluvius

**bobbin** · 09-25-2009, 00:06

They were taken out a while back, the model and skin is still in the game but unlike the Dosidataskeli there is no EDU or EDB entries for them.

**chenkai11** · 09-25-2009, 01:59

Why it was taken out?

**Jebivjetar** · 09-25-2009, 07:45

As Carthage i hire Ethipian Agema as mercenaries when i fight Ptolies, but they are swordsmen, not axemen in 1.2

**Fluvius Camillus** · 09-25-2009, 10:32

Originally Posted by Jebivjetar

As Carthage i hire Ethipian Agema as mercenaries when i fight Ptolies, but they are swordsmen, not axemen in 1.2

Yea those are quite common, but the unit I am talking about was more elite. I think those swordsmen now have the original voice of the two handed axemen.

~Fluvius

**athanaric** · 09-25-2009, 11:16

Originally Posted by chenkai11

Why it was taken out?

Wrong timeframe IIRC. Same goes for their Germanic brethren who were left out too.

**Ludens** · 09-25-2009, 18:19

Originally Posted by athanaric

Wrong timeframe IIRC. Same goes for their Germanic brethren who were left out too.

Although you are correct on the Merjoz, the Ptolemaic Ethiopian guard was replaced because new evidence indicated that they were a ceremonial rather than battlefield unit. IIRC they were instituted by one of the later Ptolemean kings. As far as I know, two-handed Germanic axes are a late Viking/Saxon development, so the Merjoz unit was almost a millennium out of the timeframe.

**Fluvius Camillus** · 09-26-2009, 15:30

Originally Posted by Ludens

Although you are correct on the Merjoz, the Ptolemaic Ethiopian guard was replaced because new evidence indicated that they were a ceremonial rather than battlefield unit. IIRC they were instituted by one of the later Ptolemean kings. As far as I know, two-handed Germanic axes are a late Viking/Saxon development, so the Merjoz unit was almost a millennium out of the timeframe.

Ok thank you, that answers my question.

~Fluvius

**Phalanx300** · 09-26-2009, 17:55

Originally Posted by Ludens

Although you are correct on the Merjoz, the Ptolemaic Ethiopian guard was replaced because new evidence indicated that they were a ceremonial rather than battlefield unit. IIRC they were instituted by one of the later Ptolemean kings. As far as I know, two-handed Germanic axes are a late Viking/Saxon development, so the Merjoz unit was almost a millennium out of the timeframe.

Yes, though it was probably rarely used like the bow, it was an ordinary day tool so it was kindoff the weapon you'd only take if there was nothing better since weapons were status.

And I also asked on the TWC, you said that Germanics would also wear the Saex but I always thought it was purely a Saxon/Viking weapon. Then again its essentially an simple knife which even Germanics probably would have used as a side arm(just imagine your spear breaking).