https://www.ancient.eu/Persian_Warfare/ Ancient History Encyclopedia Ancient Persian Warfare Joshua J. Markby https://www.ancient.eu/article/149/herodotus-on-the-customs-of-the-persians/ Ancient History Encyclopedia Herodotus: On The Customs of the Persians https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/people/reference/darius-i-persia/ National Geographic Who was Darius I? Kristin Baird Rattini Thermopylae Reference Livius.org https://www.livius.org/articles/battle/thermopylae-480-bce/ "The loftiest spot [in Greece]" ~ Philostratus "I.135. There is no nation which so readily adopts foreign customs as the Persians. Thus, they have taken the dress of the Medes, considering it superior to their own; and in war they wear the Egyptian breastplate. As soon as they hear of any luxury, they instantly make it their own: and hence, among other novelties, they have learnt unnatural lust from the Greeks." ~ Herodotus "Persians were taught to ride, to tell the truth and to use the bow" https://wargamesatlantic.com/products/persian-infantry?variant=31217950916706 Wargames Atlantic plastic 28mm Persian Multi-part set The above vignette shows off the Wargames Atlantic 28mm plastic multi-part box set. The set allows one to build a 40 figure group, and allows various arms and legs and head variants to construct different style of units in the Persian army of their rise to power and the wars with Greece. This vignette is constructed out of one sample sprue sent to me. I decided to make them into a vignette of a combined group of different Persian units, on the last day of Thermopylae. This is the final successful charge after three days of setbacks. The final charge at Thermopylae "The loftiest spot [in Greece]" ~ Philostratus In the fall of 480 BC the Persian army of Xerxes poured into Greece to punish the Greek city states that had defied the Great King. The Persian army was a huge gathering of soldiers from all parts of the empire, camp attendents, and logistical support. A small force of Spartans (300 Royal bodyguards plus 900 attendants) joined about 4000-7000 other Greeks at the pass at Thermopylae to block the Persian advance into the indefensible plains to the south. Xerxes was vexed that such a small force would dare block him, and after days of waiting he sent his army against the Spartans and their allies. Each assault was driven back. Even the vaunted Immortals could not make an impact on the Greek defenses. Numbers could not beat a better armed and armored foe, entrenched in a space where their flanks were secure. A goat path was found, or betrayed to the Persians, around the Greek's position, and a column of Immortals was sent to surround the Greeks. Early in the morning the Spartan King Leonidas gained word that the Persian's march was about to cut off the Greek's retreat. He ordered many of the Greeks to flee, while he and his Spartans plus Thebans and Thespians rushed out to attack and act as a rear guard. The final charge at Thermopylae "Here they defended themselves to the last, those who still had swords using them, and the others resisting with their hands and teeth." ~ Diodorus XI, 28-34 Here we see a jumbled group of Persians about to close in on the surrounded Greeks making their last stand on a knoll. These troops represent forces bloodied and muddied by the hoplites in two days of impossible attacks. Medes and Cissians were cut down in the first wave. A section of the Immortals was sent in only to be routed in the close confines of the muddy pass, crossed by streams and currents for the hot springs. The next day was worse as the Greeks had enough troops to rotate the defense. Each time various Persian contingents advanced they were thrown back, some were pushed off cliffsides. It was a bloody stalemate, with tremendous casualties on the Persian side. The Greeks behind stonewalls, in their heavy armor were almost impervous to attack by the lightly armed Persians. This represent the final charge, as these survivors now close in to overrun the Greeks. The Sparabara, archers and the gortyos This group has two Sparabara (pavisse holders), one Median officer, and two archers, one Persian, and one Cissian (or Kissian). The spara shield was a tall wicker barrier that could be carried then set up with a stake and held in place by a spear man. Behind the spara wall the often unarmored archers were protected by missiles and the fighters in the front ranks. The typical arrangement of troops in Persian armies is based on tens. There were two sparabara fighters and eight archers in a rank, one of the sparabara may have been in the rear as a file closer. Units were grouped into major formations of a thousand. The Median officer carries a diplyon shield for his personal defense, this also was light and made of wicker. Persian fighters would rush out in groups from the behind the spara walls. The spara wall itself was difficult to maintain in an advance, and the heavily armored Greeks were able to survive the missile fire and break down the walls. At that point the unarmored Persians were mostly helpless victims and would flee. This angle shows the quiver known as a gortyos provided in this Wargames Atlantic set. This is a Scythian style quiver. Persians also used a round quiver strapped to their backs. The Greek shield being trod over is a Warlord plastic shield. How do these plastic figures compare to other ranges Here we see the Persian group in my glass case. On the left is a Vendel large scale 28-32mm metal officer, this is in the high rage of jumbo 28mm figures. Next is a Wargames Foundry classic range figure which is very compatible with the new plastics. On the right is a Victrix plastic hoplite, which is very compatible in scale. I would use these new figures in their own units, but they fit in well with my older collection of Persians gathered over the eons. Because of the mix of arms and heads, one can make a combined unit of archers and spearmen out of these, since there are five models per sprue one can build three archers or other armed models for each. "I.135. There is no nation which so readily adopts foreign customs as the Persians. Thus, they have taken the dress of the Medes, considering it superior to their own; and in war they wear the Egyptian breastplate. As soon as they hear of any luxury, they instantly make it their own: and hence, among other novelties, they have learnt unnatural lust from the Greeks." ~ Herodotus Close ups - The Medes and Cissians (Kissians) The Mede officer with the bulbous leather cap has his sagaris (war hammer) out and is ready to charge. He wears padded armor, as style copied for Egypt, and the violin shaped dipylon shield. His Median style outfit includes the tunic and trousers that are more practical on campaign than the flowing robes shown on the Persepolis reliefs. Persians famously copied styles of weapons and outfits. The Medes were one of the first empires they absorbed, and so they copied them copiously. There are enough Median style heads to create a whole unit of this style- although some will be unarmored. There are three shield types per sprue, two spara, two dipylon, and two paltae (crescent style wicker shields). The Cissians were from the ancient land of Elam and Susa at the north end of the Persian Gulf. Elamites we highly regarded archers. I've taken the liberty of giving them a blue tunic, just because I like it. There are enough bare heads to make a nice unit of these as well. The dots are painted with tooth pick ends, which goes fairly quickly.