Sarissophoroi?

[Cataphract_Of_The_City]

Was wondering if the Sarissophoroi are going to be implemented?

[Sarcasm]

There is currently some discussion of what sarissophoroi was. Some argue that it was the same as Prodomoi, while others see it as a heavely armoured cavalry and so in the category of shock cavalry (like the companions, which are also shock cavary). So probably it isn´t gonna be featured in EB....

From https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=43480 :

Macedonian unit list, a work in progress:

Taxeis Hoplitai
Taxeis Phalangitai
Thureophoroi
Pezhetairoi
Argyraspidai
Hypaspistai
Pheraspidai
Akontistes
Slingers (name subject to change)
Toxotai
Peltastai
Thrakioi Peltastai
Prodromoi
Hippakontistes
Thrakioi Prodromoi
Thessalian Cavalry
Hetairoi

[Urnamma]

Sarissophoroi is a tricky term in that it applies both to Phalangites and Xystophoroi (the Xyston of 270 B.C. being a long two handed lance). If you're talking about the cavalry, Xystophoroi and the Thessalians, not to mention the Hetairoi, will carry these long spears.

If you're talking about phalangites, then they're covered.

[Sarcasm]

Let´s see if I can translate this list (Greek isn´t exactly my language. But I do speak Portuguese fluently )

*Taxeis Hoplitai - Hoplite batallion?

*Taxeis Phalangitai - Phalangite batallion?

*Thureophoroi - Thureos (shield) bearer. Presumably lighter troops that fill the gaps between Phalangite blocks.

*Pezhetairoi - (trans?) Companions on foot? So presumably phalangites with heavier armour.

*Argyraspidai - classic Silver Shields

*Hypaspistai - (trans?) Elite Royal Guardsmen. I presume they use Iphikratean spears.

*Pheraspidai - ??????

*Akontistes - Javelin armed infantry?

*Toxotai - (bow carrier) Archers

*Peltastai - (Pelta carriers/those that throw) Skirmishers/Light troops

*Prodromoi - Scouts/Light Cavalry

*Hippakontistes - Javelin-armed Cavalry

*Thessalian Cavalry - Shock cavalry from Thessaly

*Hetairoi - Companion Cavalry (Shock Cavalry)

What is Thrakioi???

[Cataphract_Of_The_City]

I was referring to the cavalry which were armed with sarissae. Arrian mentions them quite a few times. It seems that these were the best riders of the Macedonian cavalry and therefore could also perform as prodromoi (scouts). In set-piece battles they operated as heavy cavalry using sarissae. That's what I gather from what I 've read so far.

The pikemen of Alexander's army were called pezhetairoi. They were the standard troops, not elite.

Does any one know for sure whether the hypaspistai used the Iphicratean spear? It wouldn't make any sense.

Pheraspidai means shield-bearers, literally. However I have no idea what they were. Can someone enlighten us?

Thrakioi means Thracians.

[Urnamma]

Pheraspidai does indeed mean shield bearer. They're a form of close assault infantry.

Taxeis only means batallion in a modern sense. In the ancient Greek, it meant militia, among other things.

Hypaspistai use overhand spears.