Preview: Hellenic Factions

[il Pitta]

Syrakousai


Founded by greek colonists from Corinthos, the pòlis of Syracuse grow to became one of the main powers of the Mediterranean.
Historical adversary of Carthage in the domain of Sicily, Syracuse managed to gather under his control the main Siceliots centers, and gradually was percieved as the midpoint for excellence for all the Greeks of Italy.
As his rival Carthage, Syracuse heavily relied on mercenary troops, including in his armies Gauls, Iberians, Greek and Italic mistophoroi (mercenaries).
Even if maintining strongly their Greek heritage, Siceliots and Magno-Greeks adopted sometimes in their panoply elements from the local Italic peoples, ecpecially when founded both effective and cheap, like the Montefortino helmet.

"Montefortino" iron helmet from "Eurialo Castle" (Syracuse, 3rd century BC )

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Syracusan cavalry and infantry: "boeotian" and "Melos" helmets, "linothorax", tessalian boots, "thyreos" shield, spear (3rd century BC )




Psiloi
With the term "Psiloi" are intended all the irregular troops composed with non professional soldiers, coming from the lower social classes.
Equipped with bows, slings and javelins, these troops are the ideal support for the proper line infantry.

Akontistai

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Sphendonetai

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Toxotai

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Hoplitai Sikeliotai

In Italy the military process that produced the Macedonian phalanx never occurred, and Magno-Greeks and Siceliots still partially employ old-fashion hoplites.
Less effective and maneuverable of the new Hellenic most common troops of III B.C., Peltastai and Thyreophoroi, Hoplites are effective in frontal assaults, but very vulnerable to flank attacks.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Hoplitai Sikeliotai Epilektoi

This unit of chosen Hoplites is maded by the rich citizens of Syracuse. It have all the drawback of a common hoplite unit, but at least can rely on a better equipment.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Peltastai Sikeliotai

Is quite difficult to define what was the equipment of Greek Peltastai during the III B.C.
Actually, Peltastai undergo to a long evolution process since their corps were implemented by Iphicrates in the IV B.C., partially on the model of the "proper" Thracian Peltasts.
Moreover, apparently Peltastai became gradually a quite generalistic term, defining different types of fighters with different equipment and purposes, that more or less had in common a lighter shield than the hoplite one and a far more flexible formation.
If gradually in most of the greek realities the more heavy line Peltastai were replaced by (or maybe is more correct to say that they "evolved" in) Thyreophoroi, there were still troops named Peltastai both in Sicily and in Greece during the III B.C., maybe with the role of heavy skirmishers.

These Peltastai are recruited among Siceliots, the greek inhabitants of Sicily, and sometimes employed, as attested by archaeology, not only greek armors but true italic helmets like the Montefortino.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Thyreophoroi Sikeliotai

In the III B.C. the Thyreophoroi are one of the most common troops of the Greek military context.
Probably an heavier evolution of the Peltastai, equipped with the oblong shield used both by Italics and Celts, that the Greeks calld "Thyreos" (literally "Door"), they are reliable line troops, far more ductile of the old-style hoplites.
Being recruited among Siceliots, these troops used not only greek-style helmets, but also the Italic Montefortino

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Thorakitai Sikeliotai

The Thorakitai were basically an heavier version of the Thyreophoroi, equipped with a chainmail, probably copied from celtic models.
They appear to be used as elite shock-troops in different Greek military realities.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Epibatoi Sikeliotai

Syracuse was most of all a naval power, and his use of naval troops equipped with bow is attestet even during its first conflicts against Carthage.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Akrobalistai Hippakontistai Tarentinoi

The mith tells that Taras was founded by the Partheniai (literally "Sons of the Virgins"), the sons of some Spartan women that give birth to them when their husbands were fighting a war against the Messenians.
Actually the only one colony founded by Spartans, Taras/Tarentum heavily relied on local Italics to build up his population.
From Taras, Syracuse hired skirmish cavalrymen, that were famed for their ability.
Eventually, the term "Tarentine" became more a definition for a particular skirmish cavalry unit of Greek armies, not necessarily related with the city of Taras.

Greek Coins depicting Tarentine cavalrymen

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Hippeis Sikeliotai

Magno-Greek and Siceliot cavalry was the product of both Greek and Italic influence.
Actually, Polybius states that the III B.C. Roman cavalry was virtually identical in equipment to the Greek one, that the Romans had known in Southern Italy (Polybius, Histories, VI, 25, 3).

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

MISTOPHOROI (MERCENARY TROOPS)


Mistophoroi Toxotai Kretikoi

Cretan were famed in all the old world as mercenary archers.
They used a composite bow, the toxon.
Along with other mercenary troops they were widely used by the tyrants of Syracusa, and lot of them settled in Sicily. The first cretan archers recruited by the Romans were hired actually in Syracusa (Livy, XXII, 37)

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Mistophoroi Sphendonetai Rhodioi

Slingers from the island of Rhodes were famed in all the ancient world as mercenary slingers.
They were the first to use lead slingshots, that increased greatly the effectiveness.

Along with other mercenary troops they were widely used by the tyrants of Syracusa, and lot of them settled in Sicily. The first Rhodian slingers recruited by the Romans were hired actually in Syracusa (Livy, XXII, 37)

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Mistophoroi Oskoi

The Oscans were an italic group of tribes that lived in southern Italy, like Brettioi/Brutti and Lucanians.

Some of them, especially the Brettioi, were very familiar with the Italiotae (Greek settlers of southern Italy), an actually some Italiotae were in their ranks.

Even if mercenary phenomenon was common between these italic tribes as for the Gauls, as for them during the III B.C. most of the Oscans travel abroad to serve as mercenaries because their homeland have been conquest by Romans.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Mistophoroi Iberoi

Syracuse was probably the first greek city to employ Iberian mercenaries. Actually, their presence in the armies of Syracuse's Tyrants, is attested from their first conflicts with Carthage.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Mistophoroi Galatai/Mistophoroi Galatai Hippakontistai

As for Iberians, Syracuse was the first Greek power to hire Celtic mercenaries (mainly from the Senones tribes of center Italy). We know actually that the Tyrants of Syracuse gave to their Gallic mercenaries some lands of Southern Italy (and maybe Sicily) in reward, to create actually in-land communities pf Gauls were to recruit fast horsemen and infantrymen in case of need.
We even know that in the IV B.C. the Syracusans send some Gallic horsemen in aid of the Spartans in their war against the Thebans, and Xenophon made a quite interesting account about the fighting ways of these mercenaries : “They went to the battle in no particular order, throwing javelins, but ready to retire as soon as the Thebans responded to their blows, then change back to the front and go right back, hitting them. Between an attack and the other they dismounted to enjoy a moment of pause, but if they were attacked when they were on foot, promptly they jumped on horseback and fled, then if, in pursuit, someone of the enemy moved away from the main army, they waited when they started to come back and then hit them from behind, inflicting heavy casualties and forcing the whole army to constant advances and retreats.”
(Xenophon, Hellenike, VII, 1, 20-21).

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Legatus21]

Very beautiful and historically accurate units !!!

[il Pitta]

LAKEDAIMON ROSTER


Sphendonetai
Akontistai
Toxotai
Hippakontistai Skiritai
Akontistai Skiritai
Hoplitai Skiritai
Hoplitai Lakedaimonioi
Hoplitai Spartiatai
Hippeis Spartiatai


Kleomenes Reform Troops (227 b.C.):

Hoplitai Lakedaimonioi (reformed)
Diskilioi


Nabides Reform Troops (207 b.C.):

Hoplitai Lakedaimonioi (again refomed)
Thyreophoroi Kretikolakedaimonioi
Peltastai Kretikolakedaimonioi
Epibatoi Kretikolakedaimonioi
Akrobolistai Hippakontistai Tarentinoi

__________________-



Psiloi (skirmishers) in Spartan society were actually recruited among Helotai (Helots), the servile, almost slave-like part of Spartan society.
Being the descendents of the previous Achaen inhabitants of Laconia, Helots were until III b.C. strictly apart from Spartan society. Althought, they could gain freedom and became “Neodamodeis” (“New citizens”), with the same rights of the Perioikoi (middle class) if they served in the Spartan army for some times.



Sphendonetai

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Akontistai

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Toxotai

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The Skiritai were a pastoral people of Arcadian stock, probably related to Helots, that lived in the impervious region on the border within Spartan territory and Arcadia.
Even if for Spartan society they were of the same social class of the Perioikoi, somehow in the classical accounts they were distinguished from them.
They used to have different roles in the Spartan army: as Elite Skirmishers, preceding the hoplites and scouting the territory both on foot and on horse, having also the duty of the night guard of the encampment.
Their skirmish cavalry was very praised, and classical authors states it was as deadly as the skirmish cavalry of steppe peoples (Xenophon, Cyropaedia, IV, 2).
Skiritai also formed one specific battalion of hoplites, that always was deployed on the left wing of the battle line (actually the most threatening position in the hoplite formation).

Akontistai Skiritai

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Hippakontistai Skiritai

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Hoplitai Skiritai

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

In the III b.C. Spartan society undergo to great changes.
Even during the second part of IV b.C., due to economic, social and especially demographic decrease, the number of proper Spartiatai (full citizens) fall exponentially to sheer percentage, and according to Plutarch in 250 there were just only 700 Spartiates in Laconia.
As a result, Spartan army became actually formed with an increasing percentage of middle class citizens, the Peiriokoi , that became organized in mixed morai (military unit) with the Spartiatai, and no more in different units as in the past.

Hoplitai Lakedaimonioi

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Hoplitai Spartiatai

These hoplites are the last remnants of pure Spartiatai families of the most noble stock, elements of the highest Spartan aristocracy.
Some elements of their equipment is outdated, just to represent their conservative attitude.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Spartan Citizen Cavalry was quite ineffective, and actually “Spartan cavalrymen were recruited among the weaker, not war-like hoplites”, Xenophon, Hellenikè, VI, IV, 11
Actually, these cavalrymen are nothing more than mounted hoplites, and even if recruited among the richest Spartiatai, are of less quality if compared to other Spartan Hoplites.

Hippeis Spartiatai

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Kleomenes Reform (227 b.C.):

After deposing the Council of the Ephors, Cleomenes used the full power thus obtained to implement the total remission of debts, and the distribution of 4,000 lots of land equal to as many new citizens, chosen from the Hypomeiones(Former Spartiatai belonging to the who had been excluded from political rights for insufficient income) and even to those Perioikoi and Helotai, called “Mothakes”, that “have been raised in the Spartiatai way” (Plutarch, Parallel Lives, Life of Cleomenes, 8).

Moreover, to counter the economical crisis of Sparta, when raising a new army he implement for his newest troops the Macedonian equipment, less expensive than the hoplite one, forming sarissophoroi corp of the Diskilioi, composed by Mothakes and Cretan mercenaries to whom he gave full citizenship.
(M. Daubies, Les combattants laconiens à Sellasie, Bruxelles 1975, pp. 383- 392, and "Historia" 1971, pp. 665- 695).

Hoplitai Lakedaimonioi (reformed)

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Diskilioi

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Nabides Reform (207 b.C.):
Nabides actually followed the path of Cleomenes, and opened citizenship to all the mercenaries (mostly Cretan) that, at the time were actually half of the Spartan army.
He formed stable battalion of formerly Cretan mercenaries, now full Spartan citizens, and even a fleet (composed almost by formerly Cretans, too).


Hoplitai Lakedaimonioi (again reformed)

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Thyreophoroi Kretikolakedaimonioi

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Peltastai Kretikolakedaimonioi

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Epibatoi Kretikolakedaimonioi

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Along with the opening of citizenship to Cretans and other greek mercenaries, the use of Tarentine cavalry became more and more common, like in other greek and hellenic armies.
To be noted "Tarentine" in this case is more a term that define a role on the battlefield than a real origin from Tarentum.


Akrobolistai Hippakontistai Tarentinoi

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[il Pitta]

ATHENAI ROSTER

Sphendonetai
Akontistai
Toxotai
Peltastai Athenaioi
Hoplitai Athenaioi
Iphikratou Peltastai
Thyreophoroi Athenaioi
Thorakitai Athenaioi
Akrobolistai Hippakontistai Elaphroi

Akrobolistai Hippotoxotai
Akrobolistai Hippakontistai Tarentinoi
Politikoi Hippeis
________________________

The Psiloi are recruited among the lowest levels of the society. Equipped just with javelins, stones, bows and arrows, their role on the battlefield is just supporting the main line troops

Sphendonetai

Akontistai

Toxotai




Is quite difficult to define what was the equipment of Greek Peltastai during the III B.C.
Actually, Peltastai undergo to a long evolution process since their corps were implemented by Iphikrates in the IV B.C., partially on the model of the "proper" Thracian Peltasts.
Moreover, apparently Peltastai became gradually a quite generalistic term, defining different types of fighters with different equipment and purposes, that more or less had in common a lighter shield than the hoplite one and a far more flexible formation.
If gradually in most of the greek realities the more heavy line Peltastai were replaced by (or maybe is more correct to say that they "evolved" in) Thyreophoroi, there were still troops named Peltastai in Greece during the III B.C., maybe with the role of heavy skirmishers.

Peltastai Athenaioi

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

During the IV b.C., general Iphikrates reformed the Athenian army:




"He changed the arms of the infantry. While before he became commander they used very large shields (maximus clipeis), short spears (brevibus hastis) and little swords (minutis gladius), he on the contrary exchanged peltae for the round ones (peltam pro parma fecit), for which reason the infantry have since been called Peltasts, in order that the soldiers might move and charge more easily when less burdened. He doubled the length of the spear and increased that of the swords; he changed the character of their armor (loricarum), giving them linen in place of bronze or chain armor (pro sertis atquae linteas dedit). In that way he made the soldiers more active; for while he diminished the weight of their armor, he contrived to protect their bodies equally well without overloading them".
Cornelius Nepos' Life of Iphikrates, 1


"The Greeks were using shields which were large (megalais aspisi) and consequently difficult to handle; these he discarded and made small oval ones (peltas summetrous) of moderate size, thus successfully achieving both objects, to furnish the body with adequate cover and to enable the user of the small shield, on account of its lightness, to be completely free in his movements. After a trial of the new shield its easy manipulation secured its adoption, and the infantry who had formerly been called "hoplites" (hoplitai) because of their heavy shield (aspidon), then had their name changed to "peltasts" (peltastai) from the light pelta they carried.
As regards spear (doratos) and sword (xiphos), he made changes in the contrary direction: namely, he increased the length of the spears by half, and made the swords almost twice as long. The actual use of these arms confirmed the initial test and from the success of the experiment won great fame for the inventive genius of the general."
Diodoros 15.44



Because Iphikrates' reformed troops carried the pelta, we can call them Peltasts, as Diodoros himself does.
However, is important not to confound them with “proper” Peltasts, the medium skirmishers that already existed in Greek context.
As a matter of fact Iphikrates’ reform -as is stated by historical records- concerned hoplites, not proper Peltasts, and with a so long spear, without javelin, they would lack the equipment to fight as skirmishers, but would be able to fight in a phalanx.

Iphikratou Peltastai

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Even if during III B.C. one of the most common soldier of the Greek world was the Thyreophoros, and even in IV B.C. the successful Iphikrates’ reform had gave birth to a totally new equipment for line fighters in Athens, there is plenty of evidence that traditional hoplites continued to exist both during Iphikrates' lifetime and long after, right until the demise of the Greek polities as independent states.


Hoplitai Athenaioi

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Thyreophoroi Athenaioi

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Thorakitai Athenaioi


Thorakites were an heavier version of Thyreophoroi, and their presence is attested in Greece within the Achaean league (Polybius, Histories, IV, 12, 3; XI, 11, 4-5; 14, 1; 15, 5)

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Hippotoxotai are documented for the Persian, Athenian, Macedonian and Hellenistic armies (Hdt. 9,49,2; Arr. Anab. 4,24,1; 5,12,2; 6,6,1; Diod. Sic. 20,113,4). Since the Peloponnesian War, Athens had a squadron of 200 hippotoxotai (Thuc. 2,13,8), and is unlikely that they lost this corp.
Actually, Asclepiodotos, Aelian and Arrian wrote all about Hippotoxotai in greek armies.

Hippotoxotai Athenaioi

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Aelian, furthermore, defines a kind of Greek Akrobolistai cavalry, the Elaphroi, that throw one or two javelins before fighting hand-to-hand.
Being classified as Akrobolistai this was obviously a light cavalry, probably the direct evolution of early Greek Hippakontistai.

Akrobolistai Hippakontistai Elaphroi

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

As for other Greek and Hellenistic armies, "Tarentines" were a widely employed cavalry corp.
Obviously, in this cases "Tarentines" was a term designating more a role on the battlefield than an actual origin from Tarentum.

Akrobolistai Hippakontistai Tarentinoi

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Greek citizen cavalry was recruited within the richer citizens.
Not particularly cunning or effective, at least it could afford on a good equipment.

Politikoi Hippeis

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Athens was always been a naval power in the Aegean sea. Even if in the III b.C. her power is fading, her navy is still one of the most skilled among Greece.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[il Pitta]

MASSALIA ROSTER

Sphendonetai
Akontistai
Toxotai
Ambrones Skirmishers
Celtoligian Cavalry
Celtoligian Warriors
Peltastai Massaliotai
Hoplitai Massaliotai
Thyreophoroi Massaliotai
Thorakitai Massaliotai
Epibatoi Massaliotai
Akrobolistai Hippakontistai Elaphroi
Politikoi Hippeis
________________________________________




Massalia is rich Greek colony founded by the Phoceans on the shores of southern Gaul.
The historical accounts said that the leader of the Phocean colonists, whose name was reported being Protis or Eussenos, married the daughter of Nannos, king of the Segobriges, the Celto-Ligian tribe ruling the land, and that grants him the right of founding the colony.
In the III b.C. Massalia is a strong maritime commercial power, with a mixed population mainly of Greeks in the city and Celto-Ligian in the countryside, in a very good relationship with the Romans and always in competition with Carthage to gain the best trading routes.


The Psiloi are recruited among the lowest levels of the society. Equipped just with javelins, stones, bows and arrows, their role on the battlefield is just supporting the main line troops

Sphendonetai

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Akontistai

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Toxotai

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Peltastai Massaliotai

Is quite difficult to define what was the equipment of Greek Peltastai during the III B.C.
Actually, Peltastai undergo to a long evolution process since their corps were implemented by Iphikrates in the IV B.C., partially on the model of the "proper" Thracian Peltasts.
Moreover, apparently Peltastai became gradually a quite generalistic term, defining different types of fighters with different equipment and purposes, that more or less had in common a lighter shield than the hoplite one and a far more flexible formation.
These Peltastai are equipped with both Greek and Celtic weapons, the latter adopted thanks to the contact with Celtoligians, like La Téne longsword, and in hand to hand combat are slightly superior to other Peltasts.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

As for the rest of the Classical world, in Massalia too hoplitism is fading, in favor to lighter and more fast and manouverable troops like Peltasts and Thyreophoroi.
Even so, some Massaliote citizens still go to war with the old-fashion hoplite panoply.

Hoplitai Massaliotai

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

In the III B.C. Thyreophoroi are becoming the most common line troops of Greek armies.
While in other parts of the Greek world the use of thyreos shield has been imported by Thracians, Galatians or Italic, in Massalia is the close contacts with the Gallic and Ligurian reality that have made the Massaliote to adopt the tall thyreos.

Thyreophoroi Massaliotai

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Thorakitai are an elite, heavy armored version of Thyreophoroi, and the Thorakitai of Massalia are equipped with celtic chainmails and sometimes with celtic blades.

Thorakitai Massaliotai

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Aelian,speaking about Greek cavalry, defines a kind of Greek Akrobolistai horsemen, the Elaphroi, that throw one or two javelins before fighting hand-to-hand.
Being classified as Akrobolistai this was obviously a light cavalry, probably the direct evolution of early Greek Hippakontistai.

Akrobolistai Hippakontistai Elaphroi

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

As for the rest of the Greek nations, the richest citizens fight on horseback.
However, Greeks were never well known for their cavalry, and compared to the horsemen of the Celts, the Germans or the Scythians, these are poor riders.

Politikoi Hippeis

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Massaliote fleet was one of the most competitive in the Mediterranean, actually contending with the Carthaginian the role of chief naval power.

Epibatoi Massaliotai

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Legend told that after the death of Nannos, the Celtoligian king of the Segobriges that conceded to Phoceans to settle in the land, his son Comanos came to power and attacked Massalia to plunder it, but the Greeks not only succeeded in repelling the Celtoligians, but even counterattack the Segobriges, defeating them and extending their control on the hinterland.
Since then, some land surrounding Massalia is under massalian control, and some celtoligian villages are actually under massalian law.

Ambrones Skirmishers

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Celtoligian Warriors

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Celtoligian Cavalry

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[JOHANNES]

Great prev. Impressive superhistorical roster, thanks for your efforts

[Aguirre]

interesting work! might I ask what kind of helmet some of the units and the standard bearers wear? never seen it before. Good luck!

[Mournblade77]

Wow! Your work is great and spot on historical accuracy of the period! Not many people understand that Iphicrate's peltasts were not actual peltasts! My only objection though is that you should have probably given them pelta shields and not thyreos shields! To my knowledge, Iphicrate's peltasts were equipped with a pelta, thus freeing the left arm to help hold the longer spear! I have to admit though, that my knowledge on the subject is not as broad as yours probably is! I was wondering whether your book has been translated in any other language than Italian as it sees a very interesting read! I speak 5 languages besides my native tongue but unfortunately - something which i regret - Italian is not one of them!

[il Pitta]

Wow! Your work is great and spot on historical accuracy of the period! Not many people understand that Iphicrate's peltasts were not actual peltasts! My only objection though is that you should have probably given them pelta shields and not thyreos shields! To my knowledge, Iphicrate's peltasts were equipped with a pelta, thus freeing the left arm to help hold the longer spear! I have to admit though, that my knowledge on the subject is not as broad as yours probably is! I was wondering whether your book has been translated in any other language than Italian as it sees a very interesting read! I speak 5 languages besides my native tongue but unfortunately - something which i regret - Italian is not one of them!

Thank you!

The problem, with Iphikratou Peltastai is that actually it’s hard to determine precisely what kind of shield they used.
Actually Diodorus speaking of Iphikrates’ Peltasts shields wrote that is was “oblong” (XV, 44) so, for our timeframe I opted for the little thyreos without metal umbo.

X Aguirre: the helmet is an Hellenistic Konos

[il Pitta]

KYRENAYKE PENTAPOLIS

Kyrene was a greek colony founded on the coasts of Lybia by Dorian settlers coming from Thera, a small island near Crete.

In 440 b.C. Kyrene formed a league with other four major greek colonies on the Lybian coast, that were known as Kyrenayke Pentapolis (Five Cities of Cyrenaica).
The people of the Pentapolis is broadly divided in Greeks in the cities and Lybian Preiokoi (half-citizens) in the peripheral villages. These latter part of the society wasn’t always good disposed to their Greek masters, and time to time are recorded revolts of the Lybians against the Greeks, sometimes helped by independent Lybian tribes of the hinterland.
Formally a satrapy of the Persian Achaemenid Empire, the Kyrenayke Pentapolis passed under the rule of Alexander and after him of the Ptolemyes, even if frequent revolts against Ptolemaic Egypt are recorded, like the 276 one by Magas, stepson of the king of Ptolemaike Basileia Ptolemy I Soter, that crowned himself king of the Pentapolis.


ARMY LIST


Toxotai
Sphendonetai
Akontistai
Lybian Skyrmishers
Lybian Hoplitai
Lybian Thyreophoroi
Pezoi Kyrenaykoi
Hoplitai Kyrenaykoi
Hoplitai Kyrenaykoi Epilektoi
Politikoi Hippeis Kyrenaykoi
Akrobolistai Hippakontistai Elaphroi
Epibatoi Kyrenaykoi



Sphendonetai

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Akontistai

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Toxotai

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Lybian Skirmishers

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Lybian Hoplitai

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Lybian Thyreophoroi

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Hoplitai Kyrenaykoi

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Hoplitai Kyrenaykoi Epilektoi

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Pezoi Kyrenaykoi

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Akrobolistai Hippakontistai Elaphroi

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Politikoi Hippeis Kyrenaykoi

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Epibatoi Kyrenaykoi

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[il Pitta]

Black Sea Greeks
(Kolchis, Trapezos, Basileion tou Kimmerikou Bosporou)

All the eastern and northern coastal area of the Black Sea have been colonized by Ionian Greeks, since the VII and the VI B.C.
In these peripheral areas the Greeks at first established trading stations, that progressively became independent poleis.
The relations with the natives varied from friendship, collaboration or hostility, and while the Greek settlers undoubtedly influenced the locals, the Greeks themselves intermingled deeply with them.

ARMY LIST

Sphendonetai
Toxotai
Akontistai
Toxotai Euxeinoi
Thyreophoroi Euxeinoi
Peltastai Euxeinoi
Kolchides Axemen
Kolchides Heavy Axemen
Machariophoroi Euxeinoi
Akrobolistai Hippakontistai Elaphroi
Politikoi Hippeis
Sindoi Hippotoxotai
Sindoi Toxotai
__________________________

Sphendonetai

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Toxotai

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Akontistai

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Toxotai Euxeinoi

Representations of bowmen equipped with helmets are not uncommon in Black Sea Greeks art, a sign that probably due to the contact with the Scythians, archery was somehow something that was practiced not only by low level citizens.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Peltastai Euxeinoi

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Thyreophoroi Euxeinoi

Due to galatian influence, in the III B.C. the thyreos became the most common choiche of shield for line troops on the Black Sea shores.
Even if round hoplon shields of different sized were still in use, and with them square and rectangular shaped shield of probable scythian concept, the shield of the line spearmen was the thyreos, as attested by different depictions.
The thyreophoroi of the Black Sea greek colonies could be of different heritages: in their line were both greeks and hellenized locals.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Kolchides Axemen

Directly inspired by the hand weapons of the Scythians and the Kartvelians, apparently the axe was a poplular weapons within the Black Sea Greeks, especially the Colchians.
The equipment of Colchian warriors was a mixture of local and greek panoply, and if the hand axe was a common weapon, big and small hoplon like shields and Calchidian helmets were also common.
As armor, the linothorax was probably widely used, while the richer warriors were equipped with scale thorakes, probably adopted from Karvelians and Scythians as the axes, combined with older elements of the hoplite panoply, as the knemides
(both attested by archaological findings)


Chalcidian helmet found in Kolchis

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Kolchian axes

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Kolchides Axemen

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Kolchides Heavy Axemen

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Machairophoroi Euxeinoi

Even if less common than the axe, the sword is attested as a weapon of the Black Sea Greeks, both as the greek kopis and as the indigenous akinakes.

Kolchian and Kartvelian swords

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Akrobolistai Hippakontistai Elaphroi

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Politikoi Hippeis

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The Sindoi were a Scythian group that were heavily hellenized.
The Greeks of the Cimmerian Kingdom extended their authorities over various scythian tribes, that lived in the countriside out of the poleis, and mixed their way of life an traditions with the greek ones.

Sindoi statue

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Sindoi Toxotai

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Sindoi Hippotoxotai

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Black9]

Black Sea Greeks
(Kolchis, Trapezos, Basileion tou Kimmerikou Bosporou)

All the eastern and northern coastal area of the Black Sea have been colonized by Ionian Greeks, since the VII and the VI B.C.
In these peripheral areas the Greeks at first established trading stations, that progressively became independent poleis.
The relations with the natives varied from friendship, collaboration or hostility, and while the Greek settlers undoubtedly influenced the locals, the Greeks themselves intermingled deeply with them.

ARMY LIST

Sphendonetai
Toxotai
Akontistai
Toxotai Euxeinoi
Thyreophoroi Euxeinoi
Peltastai Euxeinoi
Kolchides Axemen
Kolchides Heavy Axemen
Machariophoroi Euxeinoi
Akrobolistai Hippakontistai Elaphroi
Politikoi Hippeis
Sindoi Hippotoxotai
Sindoi Toxotai

Hey il Pitta, I think that some of these units should have pre-charge javelins to throw. I own a copy of Mariusz Mielczarek's "The Army of the Bosporan Kingdom," and there are a few funeral paintings that depict warriors with them. Here's an example: http://imgur.com/kIYiFox

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

(I had to upload the picture myself because I couldn't find the same one online)

There are several depictions of these lightly armored machairophoroi, so it might warrant another unit type.

Additionally, there are graves that contain both spear and arrowheads, so a combined archer/spearman unit could be made, although I guess it's up to interpretation whether they were infantry or cavalry. I can upload more pictures later if you want them.

[il Pitta]

Yes please!
You'll very helpful!

[Black9]

Yes please!
You'll very helpful!

Here's the imgur link since I can't seem to embed images: http://imgur.com/a/hmmtO

Another possible troop-type would be imitation-legionaries of a sort. From Tacitus, Annals 12.16: "Then the army advanced in regular formation, the Adorsi in the van and the rear, while the centre was strengthened by the cohorts, and native troops of Bosporus with Roman arms." This was during the war against Mithradates.

Some of them might be out of the time frame that you want to use, being in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. If you have any more questions, let me know.