Armies - Glossary
Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2024 10:18 pm
Armies - Glossary
agema - élite units of the hetairoi and hypaspists
argyraspids - Silver Shields; Macedonian veteran crack infantry; 3,000 strong
basilike - ile basilike - the Royal Squadron or agema of the Companions
hetairoi - Macedonian Companion cavalry; heavily armored nobility horsemen
hipparchy - four ilai of hetairoi
hoplite - heavily armored Greek footman
hoplon - large round shield of the Greek hoplites; wooden core covered with bronze
hypaspists - Macedonian crack infantry; 3,000 strong
ile (plural: ilai) - squadron of hetairoi; 200-300 horsemen
javelin - 4 feet or 5 feet long spear; missile weapon
pelta - wicker shield of the peltasts
peltast - lightly-armed infantry man armed with a bundle of javelins and a wicker shield; Thracian origin
pezhetairoi - Foot Companions of the Macedonian phalanx; infantry carrying the sarissa and a light shield
phalanx - Greece: battle line formation of hoplites, usually 4 to 8 deep; Macedonia: battle line formation of pezhetairoi, usually 16 deep and divided in taxis
prodromoi - Thracian light cavalry; mounted scouts armed with a spear
sarissa - 13 feet to 17 feet pike used by the Macedonian pezhetairoi (phalanx)
sarisophori - prodromoi
taxis - Macedonian phalanx battalion of 1,526 pezhetairoi
xyston - short thrusting spear or lance of the hetairoi and Thessalian cavalry
Literature
G. Cawkwell, Introduction to the Anabasis of Xenophon, New York, 1986.
T.A. Dodge, Alexander, New York, 1996 (originally published 1890)..
J.F.C. Fuller, The Generalship of Alexander the Great, New York, 1960.
N. Sekunda & J. Warry, Alexander the Great; His Armies and Campaigns 334-323 BC, London, 1998.
J. Warry, Warfare in the Classical World, London, 1980.
Written by nick
agema - élite units of the hetairoi and hypaspists
argyraspids - Silver Shields; Macedonian veteran crack infantry; 3,000 strong
basilike - ile basilike - the Royal Squadron or agema of the Companions
hetairoi - Macedonian Companion cavalry; heavily armored nobility horsemen
hipparchy - four ilai of hetairoi
hoplite - heavily armored Greek footman
hoplon - large round shield of the Greek hoplites; wooden core covered with bronze
hypaspists - Macedonian crack infantry; 3,000 strong
ile (plural: ilai) - squadron of hetairoi; 200-300 horsemen
javelin - 4 feet or 5 feet long spear; missile weapon
pelta - wicker shield of the peltasts
peltast - lightly-armed infantry man armed with a bundle of javelins and a wicker shield; Thracian origin
pezhetairoi - Foot Companions of the Macedonian phalanx; infantry carrying the sarissa and a light shield
phalanx - Greece: battle line formation of hoplites, usually 4 to 8 deep; Macedonia: battle line formation of pezhetairoi, usually 16 deep and divided in taxis
prodromoi - Thracian light cavalry; mounted scouts armed with a spear
sarissa - 13 feet to 17 feet pike used by the Macedonian pezhetairoi (phalanx)
sarisophori - prodromoi
taxis - Macedonian phalanx battalion of 1,526 pezhetairoi
xyston - short thrusting spear or lance of the hetairoi and Thessalian cavalry
Literature
G. Cawkwell, Introduction to the Anabasis of Xenophon, New York, 1986.
T.A. Dodge, Alexander, New York, 1996 (originally published 1890)..
J.F.C. Fuller, The Generalship of Alexander the Great, New York, 1960.
N. Sekunda & J. Warry, Alexander the Great; His Armies and Campaigns 334-323 BC, London, 1998.
J. Warry, Warfare in the Classical World, London, 1980.
Written by nick