Macedonian heavy infantry

I will conclude this series of posts related to the Macedonian army with a few lines concerning the heavy infantry.

First of them, the pezhetairoi (foot companions in ancient greek) who are the famous Macedonian pikemen,  armed with sarissa  (pikes).

I know I should paint 24 figures for a DBA army, here you are the first four :)

The picture below shows an hypaspist - the fourth needed to have an element of Sp for DBA (the first three are displayed here):

The Macedonian army also employed Greek mercenaries ,  as did their Persians enemies.

And last photo so far, a musician to give signals for the whole army.

Now back to the brushes ! I need:
- many more pikemen (20)
- more hoplites (4)
- light cavalry, Prodromoi (2)
- a foot general  (1) and an escort
- Alexander himself

Hope you like them.

Peltasts in Macedonian service

After the heavy cavalry (see yesterday's post), let me show you a few pictures of the light infantry.

First, the Thracian peltasts in macedonian service. These fierce warriors were hired as mercenaries in several armies of the ancient mediterranean world. Their typical crescent shaped shields were called "pelta", which gave their name to peltasts as skirmishing troops.

They were also famous for the sophisticated geometric patterns of their clothes.

All peltasts in macedonian armies were not Thracian (and did not wear pelta). Here you are two javelinmen,  the one on the right is an Agrianian.

I hope you like them (to be followed).

Macedonian heavy cavalry

Yesterday's post described elite infantry and elephant, let's keep on describing the Macedonian army with the heavy cavalry. In the DBA list, you have to represent Hetairoi and Thessalian cavalry.

Here are the Hetairoi, a word meaning Companions in ancient greek. They were the unit that Alexander lead himself on the battlefield - I promised myself to paint Alexander only when all other minis are painted.They used very long kontos (cavalry lances) in battle.

They were followed by the Thessalian cavalry, who used shorter lances. The man in the middle is meant to represent an officer. He has a rich saddle made of panther skin.

To be continued.

Macedonian army of Alexander

The first troops for my macedonian army - the historical opponents to the Achaemenid persian displayed here : DBA Achaemenid Persian army

The Hypaspists, foot elite of the army:

 An elephant, probably introduced in the Macedonian army after Alexander met Porus on Hydaspes river.

 More to come !