"Late Achamenid Persian archers" Topic

Help please.
I'd read somewhere that the Persians grouped their archers together in formed/mass units to make the most of the missile fire.
However, every army list I see only has Persian archers as light skirmisher.
Does anyone know which is correct please – mass units or skirmish.

Many thanks.

Best Wishes Dave

Massed archery is, surely, mostly an Early Achaemenid thing? Not a lot of evidence for it in the later wars.

I think Sparabara ie massed archers fronted by large shield bearers are lasted mentioned in Artaxerxes IIs army at Cunaxa. After that Persian archers seem to have fought in looser formations. Not sure about the myriad of levies from around though empire though I can imagine thenm as mobs of archers clustered together rather than skirmishers proper.

Thanks for the help guys. Always frustrating when we're not sure exactly how or what happened. Although I suppose that's the thing that makes this hobby interesting.

Best wishes davejl

I Think in Imputvs, which I base my armies you get options for massed now, as FL (light mediums)

Interesting Frostie. Thanks

Alexander seems to have worried about the massed Persian archery at Gaugamela, if I recall correctly?

He was… they looks like those…

Amicalement
Armand