04-14-2008, 12:24 PM
So if the 3600 or so Spartans on the battlefield of Mantinea were all of the Spartiate class, where were the periokoi ? On the left flank a seperate number of 600 sciritai were than the only unit of periokio forces ?
The total number of hoplites on Spartan side were estimated at 9000. Of which were 3000 Arcadians (allies an mercenaries ?). 3600 Spartiates, 600 Periokoi sciritai and about 2000 Helots fighting as hoplites (veterans of Brasidas and Neodanomeis). correct me if am wrong.
A few years later Xenophon puts the Spartan army and 6 morai of almost 600 hoplites each. This is almost as much as the number given in 418 BC.
The Sciritai (600) were converted to light armed skirmishers, fighting alongside the cavalry which also were about 600 in total. Unfortunatly the quality of the Spartan cavalry was very poor. At Leuktra thy were hacked to pieces bij the Theban cavalry.
The total number of hoplites on Spartan side were estimated at 9000. Of which were 3000 Arcadians (allies an mercenaries ?). 3600 Spartiates, 600 Periokoi sciritai and about 2000 Helots fighting as hoplites (veterans of Brasidas and Neodanomeis). correct me if am wrong.
A few years later Xenophon puts the Spartan army and 6 morai of almost 600 hoplites each. This is almost as much as the number given in 418 BC.
The Sciritai (600) were converted to light armed skirmishers, fighting alongside the cavalry which also were about 600 in total. Unfortunatly the quality of the Spartan cavalry was very poor. At Leuktra thy were hacked to pieces bij the Theban cavalry.
