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+--- Thread: Doryphoroi in Rome (/showthread.php?tid=21021)
Doryphoroi in Rome - Jona Lendering - 07-05-2012
Philostratus mentions, in the Vita Apollonii 7.31, a prisoner who is brought to his judge by four doryphoroi.
What do you think: can "doryphoroi" refer to praetorians or to another type of soldiers?
Re: Doryphoroi in Rome - M. Demetrius - 07-05-2012
Could that just be another name for "spearmen"?
Re: Doryphoroi in Rome - Jona Lendering - 07-05-2012
Quote:Could that just be another name for "spearmen"?It might be a translation of "hastati", yes. And although the archaic name appears to have been used, I would be surprised that it had become a synonym for guardsman, policeman.
Re: Doryphoroi in Rome - Kai - 07-05-2012
Pretty sure it means the Praetorians. It is a quite usual Greek word for bodyguard. Cassius Dio e.g. also describes them as being doryphoroi:
Καὶ παραυτίκα γε τοῖς δορυφορήσουσιν αὐτὸν διπλάσιον τὸν μισθὸν τοῦ τοῖς ἄλλοις στρατιώταις διδομένου ψηφισθῆναι διεπράξατο, ὅπως ἀκριβῆ τὴν φρουρὰν ἔχῃ. (53,11)
But of course, the word can also be used quite generic and could mean any kind of guard then...
Re: Doryphoroi in Rome - Jona Lendering - 07-05-2012
Thanks Kai, that's what I needed.