Chalkaspidai?

**Labrat** · 02-25-2008, 15:23

I assume that the Chalkaspides in the successor armies other than Pontus are represented by the Pezhetairoi. After all, chalkaspis means bronze shield, and guess what the phalangite shield was made of?

According to Goldsworthy, after being defeated by Sulla Mithridates made a deal with Sulla's political opponents (who were living in exile in Spain) in order to obtain Roman instructors for his army. Although Goldsworthy does not mention how far this instruction went (and it is a typical Roman cliche that their worst enemies had been trained by themselves), it does suggest a greater Roman influence on Pontic armies following the first Romano-Pontic war. It should be noted though that EB's description of the Pontic Thorakitai mentions that this type of troops was already in use in the area before the wars with Rome.

**TWFanatic** · 02-25-2008, 16:11

Pontus had bronze shield pikemen in vanilla. And there is no reason to doubt vanilla's historical accuracy.

**The General** · 02-25-2008, 16:36

Originally Posted by TWFanatic

Pontus had bronze shield pikemen in vanilla. And there is no reason to doubt vanilla's historical accuracy.

Any idea when we'll get those elite battlefield ninja-wannabe guys that Romans (or Germanics?) had back? 8)

**General Appo** · 02-25-2008, 16:54

The Arcani? Last I heard they along with the Berserkers and Head-Hurlers were moving to Themiskyra, apparently they were all marrying the Amazons there. By now those wretched women have probably turned them into responsible fathers and husbands, with no thought of choping the head of whoever offends them. Too bad.

**Watchman** · 02-25-2008, 18:59

Originally Posted by Labrat

After all, chalkaspis means bronze shield, and guess what the phalangite shield was made of?

Wood with a paper-thin bronze covering, like the bigger aspis ?

**Labrat** · 02-25-2008, 19:50

Originally Posted by Watchman

Wood with a paper-thin bronze covering, like the bigger aspis ?

Touche. However, argyraspides' shields weren't entirely silver either, were they?

**Maion Maroneios** · 02-25-2008, 21:24

Originally Posted by Labrat

Touche. However, argyraspides' shields weren't entirely silver either, were they?

Guess not, you don't think silver would be strong enough to use against strong blows? Apart from that, it would be quite expensive too I guess

**Watchman** · 02-25-2008, 22:21

The usual wooden construction faced with the usual paper-thin bronze sheet - just silvered. That's my bet.

**cmacq** · 02-25-2008, 22:59

Right, a bit more tin.

**O'ETAIPOS** · 02-25-2008, 23:17

There is also one theory that suggest that pikemen shields were only made of leather with metal cover. Obviously there is no way to proove neither wooden nor leather theory - both are similarly possible (wooden slightly more, I think)

BDW one of preserved metal covers was 0.3 mm thick