This week we return to the Sparta for commanders. This pack contains 3 Spartan officers to lead your hoplite regiments. armed with spear and shield, as are the rest of your unit no doubt, they can also double as better equipped hoplites if you so desire… Of course, you’ll need something for your command packs…
Thrace was one of Macedonia’s traditional enemies, sitting as it did to the North of Macedon. As with many of Macedonia’s enemies they were conquered and their best troops duly pressed into Macedonian service. Peltasts owe much of their fighting style to that of the Thracian light infantry before them. Thracians were justly famous for their…
The title of Polemarch (roughly translated as ‘warlord’) became redundant around the time of the battle of Marathon. The duty of commanding an army was handed to the strategoi (literally ‘army leader’). In Athens we know that 10 strategoi were appointed by vote every spring – whether this practice was followed by other states is…
‘To begin with the armament of the infantry is assigned to three types if we make the most basic distinction. These three types are on the basis of their equipment: the hoplite, the light-armed and the peltasts. … The Peltasts are more lightly armed that the hoplites, their shield is both smaller and lighter than…
The Lakedaimonians used Helot slaves at Thermopylae and Plataea, although we do not know how they were equipped to fight, we do know that they were dressed in the standard way for shepherds. Later evidence shows that they were used to harass the enemy with stones and javelins, with only an animal skin covering one…
Achaemenid Persia was one of the greatest empires in history, spanning from 520-400 BC. At it’s height it spanned most of the known world and controlled enormous wealth and manpower. Its enemies were legion with the Greeks, Thracians, Skythians, Lybians, Saite Egyptians, Indians and Sakas all meeting this great empire on the field of battle….
Our new Persian Sparabara models are available to add your army in a variety of ways – Command pack, Sparabara pack or Sparabara regiment. The command pack consists of a leader, musician and standard bearer for £5. Armies of the ancient near east used trumpets to signal orders to their units. These trumpets are still…
Persian archers carried a high capacity combined quiver and bow case, they were also usually equipped with a Kopis, Akinakes or Sagris sidearm. Persian arrows used vulture or falcon feathers, both birds were considered sacred to them. Persian infantry are depicted in Greek art as wearing a cuirass until about 450 when it is thought…
By Steve May We know from examining Greek vase paintings that Persian Sparabara wore highly decorated clothing. This was most likely made from leather or felt with embroidered pattern work. Some paintings appear to show ribbons sewn down the seams of the trousers. I have chosen colours that could be made from natural materials quite…
For centuries the Arab tribes controlled the passages through Arabia. Deals were struck for safe passage and protection of supply lines and communication. This was vital during the Assyrians war against Egypt. Ashurbanipal however did launch a series of successful campaigns against them, the lightly armed archers on camels were no match for the Assyrian…
Andy Hobday