Amongst the first re-releases of the metal range we acquired when we bought Immortal Miniatures are these nifty Cretan Archers. Deployed mostly as mercenaries, the Cretan archer is an iconic element of most Greek armies. Despite their fame, almost nothing is known about their appearance or how they fought!
Xenophon mentions their shields (although we are not sure he is talking about the archers), we know they carried Scythian-style compound bows. Later depictions in art show a headband, dagger or short sword, and a small pouch carried on the chest (maybe for bowstrings, thumb rings or other archery equipment).
The Cretan Archers will provide able supporting fire for your Spartan or Greek armies. You can add more hoplites to either army with these excellent plastic boxed sets.
Wondering how to field the Cretans in your games of Hail Caesar? Salvation is at hand in the form of the Hail Caesar Army Lists: Biblical & Classical book. Containing 63 army lists, it's the perfect accompaniment to the Hail Caesar rulebook.
