Pyrrhic Greek cavalry

[ochoin]

The creme de la creme: Pyrrhos' agema (bodyguard) cavalry:









This makes 11 units completed & 4 to go to finish the army.

donald

[FreddBloggs]

No shields?

[ochoin]

No shields?

Good question. Maybe....if I can get some hoplite ones. However, the xyston - being a mini-sarissa- may have required two hands to wield so shields may *not* have been used.

BTW I'm a bit bemused that Hellenistic cavalry used hoplite shields. Big? Cumbersome? Made for infantry???

donald

[BaronVonWreckedoften]

So would you describe that as a "Union blue"?

[FreddBloggs]

No shields?

Good question. Maybe....if I can get some hoplite ones. However, the xyston - being a mini-sarissa- may have required two hands to wield so shields may *not* have been used.

BTW I'm a bit bemused that Hellenistic cavalry used hoplite shields. Big? Cumbersome? Made for infantry???

donald

I suspect they were hoplon shaped, but smaller, more like a phalangites. But other than having a note he was one of the first greek adopters of native shielded cavalry, rather than hiring them in, I know little more.

[ochoin]

So would you describe that as a "Union blue"?

It began as Vallejo's Oxford Blue- almost purple. After washing & highlighting, it does look not unlike Yankee blue.
I call it, "campaign worn".

donald

[ochoin]

I suspect they were hoplon shaped, but smaller, more like a phalangites. But other than having a note he was one of the first greek adopters of native shielded cavalry, rather than hiring them in, I know little more.

I have to source shields for this & a unit of plastic Greek cavalry (HaT Thessalians). No idea from where.

However, it's something easily glued on after the event & I'm sure something will turn up.

Duncan Head thinks cavalry shields for Greeks may have come after Pyrrhus' Italian adventure. But, as you know, speculation is often all we have for the period.

Re; shield size- I went back & saw "hoplite-style" shields was written. So a smaller version, as you wrote, is correct.

cheers, donald

[grizzlymc]

So would you describe that as a "Union blue"?

Noy in Andy's hearing