SELEUCID OFFICER OF THE ROYAL GUARD
Seleucid Officer of the Royal Guard – Middle 3rd century B.C.
Spyridon Bakas
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The Army of Alexander was an army made
for campaigns, conquests and dedicated to the purpose of continuous
expansion. But the Successors armies like the Seleucid army had a
different mission. The army became ”institutional” and geared towards
defense, aiming to the protection of the crown and the vast lands of the
Empire. The Seleucid’s “Royal Guard” is considered to have 10.000 men
in various units, core of which were the “Argyraspides” (lit.
Silvershields). The unit was continuing the tradition of Alexander’s
“Hypaspists”, having a lot of functional similarities with the Persian
“Immortals”. The “Royal Guard” was the permanent unit of the Seleucid
army. The backbone of the “Silvershields” came from the Syro-Macedonian
elite, or even original Macedonians called “klIrouchoi” (military
colonists) who were settled in the Empire receiving land and privileges
in exchange for military service.
Captions
Cuirass
The Officer wears a tube and yoke cuirass
inspired by frescos of similar cuirasses found in Macedonian tombs
during the same period. The cuirass is made of hardened leather layers
while the chest and belly areas have been invested with additional
bronze plates. On the shoulders there are decorative motifs with the
Macedonian 8 ray star, which may symbolize the elite origin of the
trooper as a true Macedonian. In the rear side the thorax has an extra
outer protection of 120 bronze scales providing coverage to the
vulnerable right part of the torso. The cuirass composite elements of
leather and bronze are suitable for the climatic conditions of Easter
Mediterranean battlegrounds while also providing flexibility and
protection.
Kopis sword
A leather baldric from the left side of the Officer suspends the simple wooden scabbard of the Kopis sword.Sandals
These “Open type” leather sandals have
metal hobnails that increase the stability of the stride of the soldiers
on the battlefield especially if there was a need for pushing or
absorbing the pressure.
Belt
A leather belt with red leather interior
lining and a bronze plate with a griffin decoration as a fastening
mechanism. The Griffin was a symbol used by the Seleucids and also found
in many state coins of 3rd Century B.C. Textile belts specially fastened were used as symbols of a higher military status.
Fur
An eastern-tradition fur-cloth is placed
over the chiton and under the cuirass, helping the bearer to stabilize
the cuirass to his body-shape and also is being used as a shock absorber
of enemy blows.
Helmet
The Attic helmet and its variations was
probably the most popular helmet among the Seleucid phallangite
Officers. Seleucus Nikator was depicted wearing an Attic type helmet in a
series of coins of his era.
Sources
Kampouris Manousos. “Warriors of Ancient Greece. Weapons, Tactics, Organisation in Classical Greece”,Alkalios Publications , Athens, 2008 (In Greek)Bar-Kochva, The infantry Royal Guard in the Seleucid army, Cambridge University Press, 1989
Segunda Nick Seleucid and Ptolemaic Reformed Armies 168-145 BC (Volume 1) Montvert Publications
Head, Duncan (1982) Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars. WRG p. 115
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The Author
Spyros Bakas is a reenactor from Greece and member of the Association of Historical Studies, KORYVANTTES.
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Publishing Information
Published by karwansaraypublishers.com
«ANCIENT WARFARE MAGAZINE», September 2014, (issue VIII.4), «The Seleucid Empire»baila morena
http://www.gradesaver.com/perfume-the-story-of-a-murderer/study-guide/bibliography
http://www.gradesaver.com/perfume-the-story-of-a-murderer/study-guide/quiz1
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