07-20-2010, 03:24 PM
Ive been away for a while, it’s nice to see some more posts on this.
It think, based on the Greek accounts it is clear that the Spara was not normally held while in combat. If you look at the Persian depictions of them, you will notice that the shield bearers all have very long spears, which were probably used with both hands. This can be seen on a few Persian cylider seals.
Also, bear in mind that the Persians were well aware of how Hoplites fought, they had been in contact with each other for hundreds of years. As Paul has pointed out, Hoplites did have trouble facing the Spara wall.
Every man would carry a bow. How many carried a spear? we cannot say. I would think it highly unlikely that every man would carry one. The Akinakes was all they had for personal defence.
It is also worth noting that that spears in the near east are usually thrown, not used in combat. Cavalry and archers made up the majority of near eastern armies. We know that the Median Kara raised units of spearmen, but what the term 'spearman' means in a near eastern context is not clear.
The Elamite army was the basis of the Persian army, not the Assyrian or Babylonian. The reliefs in the British museum are Assyrian, not Babylonian. The Assyrians record that the Elamites raised vast numbers of archers for their armies. There are tantalising references to 'shielded archers' and heavily armed and armoured archers.
It think, based on the Greek accounts it is clear that the Spara was not normally held while in combat. If you look at the Persian depictions of them, you will notice that the shield bearers all have very long spears, which were probably used with both hands. This can be seen on a few Persian cylider seals.
Also, bear in mind that the Persians were well aware of how Hoplites fought, they had been in contact with each other for hundreds of years. As Paul has pointed out, Hoplites did have trouble facing the Spara wall.
Every man would carry a bow. How many carried a spear? we cannot say. I would think it highly unlikely that every man would carry one. The Akinakes was all they had for personal defence.
It is also worth noting that that spears in the near east are usually thrown, not used in combat. Cavalry and archers made up the majority of near eastern armies. We know that the Median Kara raised units of spearmen, but what the term 'spearman' means in a near eastern context is not clear.
The Elamite army was the basis of the Persian army, not the Assyrian or Babylonian. The reliefs in the British museum are Assyrian, not Babylonian. The Assyrians record that the Elamites raised vast numbers of archers for their armies. There are tantalising references to 'shielded archers' and heavily armed and armoured archers.
Stephen May - <a class="postlink" href="http://www.immortalminiatures.com">www.immortalminiatures.com
