| pessa00 | 27 Aug 2014 10:58 p.m. PST |
Hi all, saw a rather nice looking Pyrrhic phalanx on the Aventine site using shield transfers with what I assume is Alex's head on em. Thought I might do the same. Is it likely that a successor/pyrrhic unit would all have shield designs with Alex's head on em? I guess the veneration wouldn't have died in a hurry? Thanks for any insights. |
| Sobieski | 28 Aug 2014 3:19 a.m. PST |
Since Pyrrhus was related to him, I'd think it would be a safe choice. |
| pessa00 | 28 Aug 2014 3:07 p.m. PST |
I didn't know that. Interesting. |
| Sobieski | 28 Aug 2014 4:24 p.m. PST |
You might find Plutarch's lives of them both good reading. |
| pessa00 | 28 Aug 2014 5:49 p.m. PST |
Thanks for the tip, I'm keen to do a lot more reading on the subject, time permitting. |
| Caliban | 30 Aug 2014 12:10 p.m. PST |
I've seen those transfers too, and I would really like to find an excuse to use them. I have a feeling that they might be most appropriate for a foot guard unit, as opposed to part of the line phalanx? |
| JJartist | 01 Sep 2014 11:08 a.m. PST |
Hard to say with any certainty there…. there is little in any account of Pyrrhus in which Alexander worship is mentioned. Jealousy maybe, but not worship..
The coins of Epirus reveal Herakles and other gods and goddesses… and the monogram of Pyrrhus:
link The Alexander shield motif might be more common among early successors in Asia-- most likely the troops of Eumenes who had created a cult of Alexander worship to attract veterans to his cause. The other Successor states tended to enjoy aggrandizing their own potentates more than Alexander… |
| pessa00 | 01 Sep 2014 6:07 p.m. PST |
Didn't Pyrrhus get 'loaned' some of his phalanx? Though, I thought I might use the unit with the Alex heads to represent one of the more elite Macedonian units still in the grip of Alexander fandom (I'm using your list JJ for WAB) the Stubborn Macedonians I reckon will get a run from time-to-time! |
| pessa00 | 01 Sep 2014 6:17 p.m. PST |
At the risk of highjacking my own thread. JJ in your list, the Pyrrhic heavy cavalry have an option to drop Zyston and replace with Throwing Spear, JLS and shield? Is this just for the Thessalians or can the Agema do same? I thought the Agema were all lancers for some reason? I'm starting to like the idea of Agema with heavy armour, shield, throwing spear and JLS… |
| JJartist | 02 Sep 2014 12:56 p.m. PST |
@pessa00 Pyrrhus' had a phalanx of Macedonians on loan from Ptolemy Keraunus. When Keraunus was killed I reckon they decided to stay with Pyrrhus. Later on they and the Epirote phalanx seem more an more interchangeable. Most of Pyrrhus own phalangites gained their gear from defeated Macedonian armies. The alternate armament for Agema cavalry is based on the implied notion that they rearmed themselves to fight more like Italian cavalry. Pyyrhus himself is still described a using a lance at Sparta, so all of this may just be gamer's whims of fancy. (in other words BS) |
