Peltast
A peltast (Greek: πελταστής, peltastes) was a type of light infantry originating in Thrace and Paeonia and named after the kind of shield he carried. Thucydides mentions the Thracian peltasts, while Xenophon in the Anabasis distinguishes the Thracian and Greek peltast troops.[1]
The peltast often served as a
Description
Pelte shield
Peltasts carried a crescent-shaped
Weapons
Peltasts weapons consisted of several
Development
In
The style of fighting used by peltasts originated in Thrace, and the first Greek peltasts were recruited from the Greek cities of the Thracian coast. They are generally depicted on vases and in other images as wearing the typical Thracian costume, which includes the distinctive Phrygian cap made of fox-skin and with ear flaps. They also usually wore patterned tunics, fawnskin boots and long cloaks, called zeiras, decorated with a bright, geometric, pattern. However, many mercenary peltasts were probably recruited in Greece. Some vases have also been found showing hoplites (men wearing Corinthian helmets, greaves and cuirasses, holding hoplite spears) carrying peltes. Often, the mythical Amazons (women warriors) are shown with peltast equipment.
Peltasts gradually became more important in Greek warfare, in particular during the Peloponnesian War.
Xenophon, in the Anabasis, describes peltasts in action against Achaemenid cavalry at the Battle of Cunaxa in 401 BC, where they were serving as part of the mercenary force of Cyrus the Younger.
Tissaphernes had not fled at the first charge (by the Greek troops), but had instead charged along the river through the Greek peltasts. However he did not kill a single man as he passed through. The Greeks opened their ranks (to allow the Persian cavalry through) and proceeded to deal blows (with swords) and throw javelins at them as they went through.[3]
Xenophon's description makes it clear that these peltasts were armed with swords, as well as javelins, but not with spears. When faced with a charge from the Persian cavalry, they opened their ranks and allowed the cavalry through while striking them with swords and hurling javelins at them.[3]
Peltasts became the main type of Greek mercenary infantry in the 4th century BC. Their equipment was less expensive than that of traditional hoplites and would have been more readily available to poorer members of society. The Athenian general
Some authorities, such as
Anatolian
A tradition of fighting with javelins, light shield and sometimes a spear existed in Anatolia and several contingents armed like this appeared in Xerxes I's army that invaded Greece in 480 BC. For example, the Paphlagonians and Phrygians wore wicker helmets and native boots reaching halfway to the knee. They carried small shields, short spears, javelins and daggers.[9]
In the Persian army
From the mid-5th century BC onwards, peltast soldiers began to appear in Greek depictions of
In the Antigonid army
In the
Deployment
Peltasts were usually deployed on the flanks of the
Tactics
When faced with hoplites, peltasts operated by throwing javelins at short range. If the hoplites charged, the peltasts would retreat. As they carried considerably lighter equipment than the hoplites, they were usually able to evade successfully, especially in difficult terrain. They would then return to the attack once the pursuit ended, if possible, taking advantage of any disorder created in the hoplites' ranks. At the
They (the Spartan hoplites) themselves were held up by the weapons shot at them from both flanks by the light troops. Though they (the hoplites) drove back the light troops at any point in which they ran in and approached too closely, they (the light troops) still fought back even in retreat, since they had no heavy equipment and could easily outdistance their pursuers over ground where, since the place had been uninhabited until then, the going was rough and difficult.[14]
When fighting other types of light troops, peltasts were able to close more aggressively in melee, as they had the advantage of possessing shields, swords, and helmets.
Medieval Byzantine
A type of infantryman called a peltast (peltastēs) is described in the
See also
References
- taxonomy.
- ^ James A. Towle, Commentary on Plato: Protagoras James A. Towle, Ed.
- ISBN 978-0-8137-1091-4.
Poropeltarion [...] is derived from the Latin paras, pore, and peltarion, little shield.
- ^ a b Xenophon. Anabasis. [1.10.7].
- ^ Smith, A.H. A Catalogue of Sculpture in the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities. British Museum. p. 49.
- ^ The Numismatic Chronicle. Royal Numismatic Society. 2005. p. 83.
- ^ a b Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca Historica, XV.44
- ISBN 9780199719556.
- ISBN 9780521762076.
- ^ Herodotus. Histories [7:70]
- ^ Head, Duncan (1992), p40
- ^ Sekunda, Nicholas V (1988), p69.
- ^ Sekunda (1992), p. 24
- ^ Xenophon. Hellenica. [3.2.16].
- ^ History of the Peloponnesian War [4.33]
- ^ Birkenmeier, p. 64.
- ^ Birkenmeier, p. 123.
- ^ Birkenmeier, p. 241.
- ^ Dawson, p. 59.
Bibliography
- Ancient sources
- Diodorus Siculus. History.
- The Histories
- The History of the Peloponnesian War.
- Xenophon. Anabasis.
- Xenophon. Hellenica.
- Modern sources
- Best, J. G. P. (1969). Thracian Peltasts and their influence on Greek warfare.
- Birkenmeier, John W. (2002). The Development of the Komnenian Army: 1081–1180. Brill. ISBN 90-04-11710-5.
- ISBN 0-7481-0109-8
- Dawson, Timothy (2007). Byzantine Infantryman. Eastern Roman Empire c.900–1204. Osprey. ISBN 978-1-84603-105-2.
- Head, Duncan (1982). Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars. WRG.
- Head, Duncan (1992). The Achaemenid Persian Army. Montvert. ISBN 1-874101-00-0
- "Light Infantry", special issue of Ancient Warfare, 2/1 (2008)
- Sekunda, Nicholas V (1988). Achaemenid Military Terminology. In Archaeologische Mitteilungen aus Iran. Band 21.
- ISBN 978-1-85532-250-9.