Quote Originally Posted by Cambyses View Post
Were akontistai really hunters? I mean was anyone non-noble really a hunter in developed and populous areas of the ancient world, such as Greece? IMO these guys were "cannon fodder" designed to slow down and tire out the enemy, not score large numbers of kills.
Urban poor that would do just as good, if not more, in serving as a ship's rowers? Dunno. We must keep in mind, though, that this was a primarily rural society.