Cyrus' Revolt against the Medes

[Andreas Johansson]

I have the vaguest of memories of Nigel T saying somewhere that the source is ambiguous and might just mean "archers and shield-bearers".

I see the DBMM list quotes it as "men of the bow and the shield", which one could easily imagine reflecting an ellipsis for "men of the bow and men of the shield". I guess what we need is more assyriologists in the Society.

Now, archers plus shield-bearers too could mean a sparabarah-like formation.

[rodge]

Now, archers plus shield-bearers too could mean a sparabarah-like formation.

Thats what I thought. Any idea how the Elamite foot units were comprised?

[Duncan Head]

Now, archers plus shield-bearers too could mean a sparabarah-like formation.

Or could, in DBMM terms, mean any of several other things!

[Duncan Head]

"A shield-bearer from Sialk"

This article is about the shielded figure on pottery that I linked to early in this thread, whom Farrokh identified as a Mede. In fact a quick Google suggests that the "Sialk B" site from which he comes is variously dated, and is not universally identified as Median. I think indeed he is the source for Tallis & Stillman's Fig.165, described as Mannaian. So he may not be much use to you after all.

[Andreas Johansson]

Any idea how the Elamite foot units were comprised?

Not sure what you mean, but my previous posts contain something close to the sum total of my knowledge of Neo-Elamite infantry.

Or could, in DBMM terms, mean any of several other things!

Certainly; I'm not suggesting we run out and emend our Neo-Elamite army lists.

[rodge]

Any idea how the Elamite foot units were comprised?

Not sure what you mean, but my previous posts contain something close to the sum total of my knowledge of Neo-Elamite infantry.

Sorry, I meant were they mixed spear and bow units or spear units and bow units.

[Andreas Johansson]

For the 7C I think our best guess has to be to take Ashurbanipal at face value and assume they were predominantly bow only.

For the 6C, who knows? At some point between the reliefs depicting the battle of the Ulai (655 BC) and Xerxes' invasion they evidently adopt sparabarah tactics, but I'm not aware of any hint as to when.