The Makedonian phalanx -- why such depth?

[Paullus Scipio]

I don't think that to contend that Thureophoroi are psiloi/light troops is logical or likely, based on the overall evidence. After all, technically they are more 'heavily' equipped than true peltasts....and there is evidence that they skirmished, as I have mentioned. One should not rely on Asclepiodotus alone ( who after all is making a generalisation) and certainly not take him, or the other two manuals too literally. There are in reality an infinite variety of troop types, based not just on equipment, but on organisation discipline and training, just to mention a few factors. For example, an early Thracian tribal 'peltast' is a far cry from his more disciplined, better equipped Greek mercenary counterpart of later years, who is different again from a Hellenistic mercenary 'Thureophoros' - but all fall within the Manuals definition of 'medium' troops who can skirmish or fight hand-to-hand..... and are between true psiloi and Hoplites/heavy armed.