Other Types of Infantry
Notes
The Pelta, or light shield
Many re-creations of the half-moon peltast shield are undertaken against the simple premise that this was a wicker shield, covered in leather. The reality, though, was quite different.
Examples of grave finds have shown that, far from being wicker, the construction of this type of shield was remarkable in its simplicity. Essentially, they would have been comprised of lengths of branch, each approximately 1 cm in diameter, threaded horizontally through a piece of leather, side by side.
To accommodate this, the slots in the leather would have been cut in zigzag or angular patterns, giving the quite distinctive frontage often seen on vases. Evidence has also been found that both the wooden rods and the leather itself would have been painted.
Whilst relatively light as a shield, if the leather was soaked before construction and the wood was relatively supple, once the leather had dried and tightened around the core it would have been quite effective. What's more, following an engagement and having suffered some damage, the ability to repair these was only restricted by the proximity of the nearest tree!
In reconstructing these, size becomes an issue, as does achieving the distinctive half moon shape.
An early prototype of the Hoplite Association, shown to the right, was built around a pre-formed frame as it was undertaken to test the leather and 'rod' construction. From this it became clear that:
A - the rods had to engage with the frame
B - thickness and type of leather was paramount, too thin and there would be no integrity, too thick and it would be impossible to have tightly fitting 'rods'
C - understanding how big it might have been was very difficult to gauge
Further work has suggested that if you work to a goatskin as being the most likely source of leather, then the size really sets itself as it is dictated by the size of the skin. In addition, this provides a skin that is supple enough yet retains integrity when assembled.
Linked with this, if you source fresh, natural branches with existing flexibility in the limbs, then the curve and the shape will really create itself.
As an alternative, the Scythians also used a pelta with iron plates on the front. This, it seems likely due to the iron fittings, was most probably made on a wooden core, not to dissimilar in construct to the shields carried by the vikings. A representation of this approach is also featured on the right.
THE 5th CENTURY B.C.
This century saw the Persian invasions and an increase in the variety of troops to be found on a battlefield.
Prior to this century there were some light troops to be found, usually a combination of the hoplite 'slaves' and mercenary troops such as the Scythians, who feature quite widely in Archaic vase paintings within the hoplite phalanx itself.
Key Troop Types
Psioli - essentially light infantry, skirmishers. Made up of the poorer population / 'slaves' and very lightly armed - even to the extent of just a heavy rock!
Ekdromoi - created in response to engaging non-hoplite forces comprised of light infantry, which could outflank a phalanx easily. Essentially a hoplite but without the armour to constrict movement.
Peltasts - a form of light infantry usually armed with throwing spears and carrying a light half-moon shield.