Society of ancients battle day 2026

[Sean Clark]

I take it these would be classed as later Achaemenid Persians?

Cavalry and scythed chariots are hardest to proxy with other figures. Happy to paint up an army for one of the two tables. Maybe two armies if I can get the focus!

[Colonel Kilgore]

I'm happy to play with your new figures, Sean 

Simon

[martin goddard]

Yep, later Persians.

We need the chariots, as they are an important part of the visual.
I reckon that cavalry are the main "need".
Shieldless armoured with longer spear leg armour and horse armour.
Shieldless with javelin, spear and possibly bow case. Armour would often be covered by colourful over shirts etc.
I will make these cavalry first.
Tight scheduling but we can try.
I will get  a time line started.

martin    

martin

[Smiley Miley 66]

What do you want me to do ? Figure wise ? Scenery wise ?
Mats how many do we need ?
Miles

[Panzer21]

Yep, later Persians.

We need the chariots, as they are an important part of the visual.
I reckon that cavalry are the main "need".
Shieldless armoured with longer spear leg armour and horse armour.
Shieldless with javelin, spear and possibly bow case. Armour would often be covered by colourful over shirts etc.
I will make these cavalry first.
Tight scheduling but we can try.
I will get  a time line started.

martin    

martin

Actually, it was a mix of early (Sparabara) and later (EHC) troop types. No Immortals reported but would be around king. Even later Persian cavalry may have carried shields - colonist type.

Neil

[Sean Clark]

Thanks Neil. Really interesting. I've read a couple of articles that state sparabara were still in use, though not quite to the same degree as earlier periods. They have been lighter armed troops with archers behind.

[martin goddard]

The Society of ancients have asked for details for the battle day 29th March Sunday.

I will book two tables for CK games.
I was a bit embarrassed last year by having to cancel a table.
Thus, can you confirm (add "confirmed")on this thread that you will be coming  (of course emergencies do arise and that is an accepted risk).

1. martin- confirmed
2. Miles
3. Simon
4. Sean
5. Stewart
6. Nigel- confirmed

thanks


martin

[Colonel Kilgore]

1. martin - confirmed
2. Miles
3. Simon - confirmed
4. Sean
5. Stewart
6. Nigel - confirmed

Simon

[Stewart 46A]

Miles
3. Simon - confirmed
4. Sean
5. Stewart - confirmed
6. Nigel - confirmed



v

[martin goddard]

Updated

1. martin - confirmed
2. Miles
3. Simon - confirmed
4. Sean
5. Stewart- confirmed
6. Nigel - confirmed

thanks

martin

[Smiley Miley 66]

Updated

1. martin - confirmed
2. Miles - confirmed
3. Simon - confirmed
4. Sean
5. Stewart- confirmed
6. Nigel - confirmed

Miles

[Panzer21]

Thanks Neil. Really interesting. I've read a couple of articles that state sparabara were still in use, though not quite to the same degree as earlier periods. They have been lighter armed troops with archers behind.

Sorry Sean, missed this.

The time of the battle falls between the early Persian Wars period and the later Alexander invasion, hence the theory that there was a transition in the armies. Duncan Head postulates that the Sparabara were replaced by "Takabara" peltast types, with Greek mercenaries providing heavy infantry.
Note the Persians are defined by their shield type, much like the Greeks (our sources being Greek or the few representations in statues, monuments and the Alexander mosaic).

Xenophon at Cunaxa talks of facing Egyptians with heavy wooden shields and "gerraphoroi" -"gerra" has been identified as a "wicker" shield - hence the theory that Sparabara spear and bow combination troops were present, the earlier Persian Wars sources referring to "gerra" shield barriers.

Aside from these, the only other Persian troops described are the scythed chariots and Cyrus' bodyguard wearing Greek helmets and leg / horse armour. Tissaphernes' cavalry are described as "white armoured" - a Greek spolas or did the armies have an identifying colour? Red for Cyrus, White for Artaxerxes?
Paphlagonian cavalry are mentioned but not described. Later lots of Persian archers and slingers are mentioned and the various hill tribes encountered described, sometime fancifully.

Neil

[Sean Clark]

I know have eye surgery booked for Fridy 27th March amd will not be able to drive for a week afterwards.

Of course, this being the NHS, surgery may be cancelled for any number of reasons. However, I will need to withdraw from participation for now, pending change in circumstances. 

Many apologies.

[Colonel Kilgore]

Very sorry to hear about your upcoming operation, Sean, and hope that it's not too gruesome.

Looking on the bright side, this should be one more thing that won't clash with this year's WWW 

And, as you say, if things do get delayed then maybe you'll be able to join us after all?

Simon

[Stewart 46A]

Hi Sean
Hope it all goes well
Catch up at a battle day some time

Stewart