In
helmets.
Athenian prodromoi
The prodromoi of
Thetes, the lowest of the four census classes of Athenian citizens. Their members were, therefore, considerably poorer than the citizens who made up the
Hippeis, the heavy cavalry, who were drawn from the second census class.
[2] The cavalrymen of the
hippeis provided their own equipment, the
prodromoi, however, were equipped by their
phylarchs.
Xenophon exhorts the phylarchs to equip their
prodromoi well and to drill them in the use of javelins. Circumstantial evidence suggests that this unit was 200-strong (the
hippotoxotai are recorded as being 200-strong, the
prodomoi, being their immediate successors, are assumed to have had the same strength). By the 3rd century there is evidence that the term
prodromos was used in reference to the aides attached to cavalry officers.
[3]
Macedonian prodromoi/sarissophoroi
In the
Philip II and
Alexander the Great, the cavalry unit termed the
prodromoi carried skirmishing equipment for scouting and outpost duties, however, the cavalrymen of this unit are sometimes referred to as
sarissophoroi, "pikemen" or "lancers", which leads to the conclusion that they were sometimes armed with an uncommonly long
xyston (believed to be 14 ft long), though certainly not an infantry pike (
sarissa). They acted as scouts reconnoitring in front of the army when it was on the march. In battle, they were used in a shock role to protect the right flank of the
Companion cavalry. Persian light cavalry took over scouting duties when they became available to the Macedonian army following Gaugamela; the
prodromoi then assumed a purely battlefield role as shock cavalry. Four
ilai, each 150 strong, of
prodromoi operated with Alexander's army in Asia.
[4]
At Gaugamela, the prodromoi under Aretes were responsible for finally routing the Persian left wing cavalry, winning the battle in this sector.[5]
In the primary sources Arrian mentions that Aretes commanded the prodromoi, in the same context Curtius says that Aretes commanded the sarissophoroi. It would appear that the same unit of cavalry was known by both names.[6] It is possible that the term prodromoi was used in two different ways in the primary sources. Firstly, to indicate a particular unit, the prodromoi/sarissophoroi, and secondly, for cavalry of any type engaged in detached scouting duties.[7]
In popular culture
They have been featured in the video games Age of Mythology and Age of Empires Online, acting as the primary cavalry of the Greeks in both appearances.
References
- ^ Bugh, p. 222
- ^ Gaebel, p. 178
- ^ Bugh, p. 222-223
- ^ Ashley. pp. 32-33.
- ^ Ashley. p. 32.
- ^ Arrian, trans. Hammond, p. 267
- ^ Gaebel, p. 178-179
Bibliography
- Ashley, J.R. (2004) The Macedonian Empire: The Era of Warfare Under Philip II and Alexander the Great, 359-323 B.C. McFarland.
- Arrian, trans Hammond, M. (2013) Alexander the Great: The Anabasis and the Indica, Oxford University Press.
- Bugh, G.R. (2912) The Horsemen of Athens, Princeton University Press
- Gaebel, R.E, (2004) Cavalry Operations in the Ancient Greek World, University of Oklahoma Press