Early Macedonian Hetairoi gear

[MeinPanzer]

Cuirass and helmet seem likely, and based on my rather limited knowledge of the finds from Archaic and Classical Macedonia, that would probably be a T&Y cuirass with an Illyrian helmet. A couple of throwing spears seem likely with a sword for a sidearm. Those coins show Illyrian helmets which Egg would classify as Variant III, which are also the most commonplace type of helmet found in Macedonia during the Archaic period (see above). Simply based on the proportion of finds from aristocratic graves I would say that this would be the most likely candidate for an early Macedonian cavalry reconstruction helmet, but I could imagine that these would not be very well-suited to fighting on horseback.

Isn't there evidence for Scythians wearing Corinthian helmets with the nasals cut out? Plenty of cavalry have worn helmets which covered everything except the face, like the 16th century burgonet, so I think that most styles of ancient helmet would be practical for both cavalry and infantry. Of course, a cavalryman might want better vision and hearing than a hoplite, but that would be up to the individual.

Oh, it certainly could be worn by cavalrymen, and I don't doubt that it was, as there is even a representation on a belt plaque from Illyria of a cavalryman wearing an Illyrian helmet. All I was saying is that it would not be a helmet well-suited to cavalrymen. As Xenophon states in his treatise on horsemanship, cavalrymen want a helmet that allows full peripheral vision and that does not cover the ears, and the Illyrian fails on both counts. It would just be ironic if the renowned cavalrymen of Macedonia wore a helmet that was considered so ill-suited to cavalry warfare, while their neighbours to the south invent the helmet which is the complete opposite - the Boeotian - that becomes the mainstay of cavalrymen. As is so often the case, fashion overrided what we may think of as practicability.

[Paralus]

Personally the case for the Alexander in Anaximenes being the First of that name is much stronger than the wargames type allows, but this is not the place for that debate.

Indeed. Alexander III did not, demonstrably, create the "Companion" cavalry nor the pezhetairoi. Alexander I, whatever else he may have done, doesn't seem to have created the pezhetairoi. Alexander II - despite the wargamer's insistence - hardly had the time to be reorganising the Macedonian military whilst (unsuccessfully) dodging assassins' blades. IN any case, the Macedonian foot hardly rates a mention in those years and when it does it is in derisory terms.

As Anson notes, the passage is a citation in the Suda experpting Harpocration excerpting Anaximines who, at bottom, is not the most reliable of sources in any case. It is twice removed from that writer and is a gloss on Demosthenes (Olynthaic) but notes Philipic instead. Hardly confidence inspiring.

Clearly it was Philip II that expanded the "franchise" of the pezhetairoi as well as the Companion Cavalry if he did not create the former himself.

Possibly another thread is the go?

[Gorgon]

I've not heard this before, but it depends on what classification system you're following - Egg? Dintsis? What "early" helmets are you classifying as "Thracian" then?

Hi. I got the information from Tim Everson's "Warfare in Ancient Greece: Arms and Armour from the Heores of Homer to Alexander the Great", published in 2004. He states he's following Dintsis.

The older "Thracian" helmet, c. 460, for Dintsis would be the Pseudo-Attic (Dintsis 1986, Helmet type 7). Pflug continues to call it Attic, making no differentiation from the earlier Attic (Pflug 1989, p. 24). Other authors simply call the Dintsis' Pseudo-Attic a "Thracian".

Then, circa 400, a new variant of the "Thracian"/Pseudo-Attic appears. Dintsis (supposedly) calls it a Phrygian.


Thanks for the information regarding the excavation. Interesting stuff.

[Dutchhoplite]

Please show us the painting when it's finished

[Merlkir]

Please show us the painting when it's finished

I will, don't worry I'm still waiting for my new tablet I ordered.

[hoplite14gr]

Polygyros Museum Chalkidiki
http://s160.photobucket.com/albums/t178 ... ygyros.jpg
Roughly the time frame you need.

Kind regards

[Merlkir]

That's brilliant, thank you! So cavalry would use shields with spears?
And are those high boots? (thracian?)

[MeinPanzer]

Polygyros Museum Chalkidiki
http://s160.photobucket.com/albums/t178 ... ygyros.jpg
Roughly the time frame you need.

Kind regards

On the contrary, this plaque has been dated to the late 4th c. BC, and so is even less chronologically relevant than the Pelinna stele!

I just remembered this example, which may be of help, though. It is terracotta figurine from Torone dating to between the 6th the mid-5th centuries BC, now housed in the same museum as the plaque Stefanos posted:

http://www.antiquemilitaryhistory.com/i ... ygyros.JPG

[Merlkir]

That's one ugly figurine! )

[hoplite14gr]

Thanks Ruben,
The figurine was awsome.
When did they re-dated the plaque? My book is rather old.
Please for shielded cavalry browse the relevant threads in the Greek section.
There are too many engravings and pottery items with shielded horsemen to be simply dismissed as mounted hoplites. The controversial matter of scythian saddle introduction is covered also in these threads

Though thracian boots were popular with horsemen a number of other boot types were available, both laced and unlaced. You have lots of choices here. Please see Greek foot-ware thread.

Hope you found my PM useful.

Kind regards

[MeinPanzer]

Thanks Ruben,
The figurine was awsome.
When did they re-dated the plaque? My book is rather old.
Please for shielded cavalry browse the relevant threads in the Greek section.
There are too many engravings and pottery items with shielded horsemen to be simply dismissed as mounted hoplites. The controversial matter of scythian saddle introduction is covered also in these threads

Though thracian boots were popular with horsemen a number of other boot types were available, both laced and unlaced. You have lots of choices here. Please see Greek foot-ware thread.

Hope you found my PM useful.

Kind regards

The dating is based on the entry from "Ancient Macedonia," Greek Ministry of Culture, Athens, 1988, which is a catalogue for an exhibition of Macedonian artefacts that toured Australia from 1988-89.

[hoplite14gr]

Thanks Ruben,
Kind regards

[Justin of the New Yorkii]

Indeed. Alexander III did not, demonstrably, create the "Companion" cavalry nor the pezhetairoi. Alexander I, whatever else he may have done, doesn't seem to have created the pezhetairoi. Alexander II - despite the wargamer's insistence - hardly had the time to be reorganising the Macedonian military whilst (unsuccessfully) dodging assassins' blades. IN any case, the Macedonian foot hardly rates a mention in those years and when it does it is in derisory terms.

Just a thought... maybe it was Archelaus I (413-399) who established the hetairoi, or maybe some similar force with a different name after Sitalces' invasion? Certainly he had the resources, once the Athenians became desperate for lumber following their defeat at Syracuse, and he introduced other major reforms to the Macedonian military:

The Macedonians were unable to defend themselves against the onset of so vast a host; they therefore retired into their strongholds and forts, which at that time were few. For those which now exist were built by Archelaus the son of Perdiccas, who, when he became king, made straight roads and in various ways improved the country. In his force of cavalry and infantry and in his military resources generally he surpassed all the eight kings who preceded him.