ancient greek military terms

Dorydrepanon (GR): shafted sickle. Following this victory, the Thebans first secured their power-base in Boeotia, before marching on Sparta. Mora (GR): Spartan military unit. Thyreos (GR): shield. Although the Spartans did not attempt to rule all of Greece directly, they prevented alliances of other Greek cities, and forced the city-states to accept governments deemed suitable by Sparta. Trièrès (GR): trireme; oared warship with three levels of rowers. [9] Darius thus sent his commanders Datis and Artaphernes to attack Attica, to punish Athens for her intransigence. Pyknosis (GR): close-order formation. Many of these would have been mercenary troops, hired from outlying regions of Greece. Kestrosphendonè (GR): special type of bolt used by slingers as a short range missile. After several days of stalemate at Marathon, the Persian commanders attempted to take strategic advantage by sending their cavalry (by ship) to raid Athens itself. This obviously took advanced mathematics. Polemos (GR): war; battle. Kakos (GR): coward. Pritchett, Kendrick W., The Greek State at War, 5 Vols., Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1975–1991. Syskènios (GR): ‘tent partner’; Spartan member of military mess association. War also stimulated production because of the sudden increase in demand for weapons and armor. Anderson, J. K., Military Theory and Practice in the Age of Xenophon, Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1970. Tagos (GR): Thessalian commander-in-chief. Pages in category "Ancient Greek military terminology" Cataphract Chalkaspides Chiliarch Companion cavalry Karda (PE): warlike spirit. Askooma (GR): leather sleeve surrounding lowest oar to prevent the ship from taking water. Chiliostys (GR): ‘unit of thousand’; military unit. It was a period of political, philosophical, artistic, and scientific achievements that formed a legacy with unparalleled influence on Western civilization. It scouted, screened, harassed, outflanked and pursued with the most telling moment being the use of Syracusan horse to harass and eventually destroy the retreating Athenian army of the disastrous Sicilian expedition 415-413 B.C. Amrtaka (PE): ‘Immortals’; Persian royal foot guards. These included javelin throwers (akontistai), stone throwers (lithovoloi) and slingers (sfendonitai) while archers (toxotai) were rare, mainly from Crete, or mercenary non-Greek tribes (as at the crucial battle of Plataea 479 B.C.) Ancient Greek politics, philosophy, art and scientific achievements greatly influenced Western civilizations today. Drepanon (GR): battle-scythe. Klèrouchos (GR): fief holder; military settler; soldier granted land for his upkeep. The centre and right were staggered backwards from the left (an 'echelon' formation), so that the phalanx advanced obliquely. Lazenby, John F., "Hoplite Warfare," in John Hackett, (ed. They were known as hoplites because of the shield that they used to protect them. Polyandreion (GR): mass grave. With this evolution in warfare, battles seem to have consisted mostly of the clash of hoplite phalanxes from the city-states in conflict. Perikephalaios (GR): helmet. Machimos (GR): indigenous Egyptian soldier. Rawlings, Louis, "Alternative Agonies: Hoplite Martial and Combat Experiences beyond the Phalanx," in Hans van Wees, War and Violence in Ancient Greece, London and Swansea: Duckworth and the Classical Press of Wales, 2000, pp. Click to go to the page with all the answers to Mystic words July 3 2017. The war (or wars, since it is often divided into three periods) was for much of the time a stalemate, punctuated with occasional bouts of activity. Proptoosis (GR): levelling of spears to the front of the battle-line. The rise of Athens and Sparta during this conflict led directly to the Peloponnesian War, which saw diversification of warfare. The remaining Athenian fleet was thereby forced to confront the Spartans, and were decisively defeated. Agora - The agora was the central meeting place in Ancient Greek cities. Far from the previously limited and formalized form of conflict, the Peloponnesian War transformed into an all-out struggle between city-states, complete with atrocities on a large scale; shattering religious and cultural taboos, devastating vast swathes of countryside and destroying whole cities.[11]. Basilikè ilè (GR): ‘royal wing’; Macedonian royal guard cavalry unit. Misthophoros (GR): mercenary. The Spartans did not feel strong enough to impose their will on a shattered Athens. Keleusthès (GR): naval officer responsible for setting and maintaining the rowing speed. The visionary Athenian politician Themistocles had successfully persuaded his fellow citizens to build a huge fleet in 483/82 BC to combat the Persian threat (and thus to effectively abandon their hoplite army, since there were not men enough for both). When advancing towards an enemy, the phalanx would break into a run that was sufficient to create momentum but not too much as to lose cohesion. led to the rise of the city-states (Poleis). Hègemoon (GR): commander. Skytale (GR): ‘stick’; (1) broken half of a stick used to verify the origin of a message; (2)Spartan ‘dogtags’ made of a wooden identification sign. However, a united Greek army of c. 40,000 hoplites decisively defeated Mardonius at the Battle of Plataea, effectively ending the invasion. Xystophoros (GR): spearman. Van Crefeld, Martin, Technology and War: From 2000 B.C. Katapeltaphetès (GR): (1) artilleryman; (2) artillery instructor. Along with the rise of the city-state evolved a brand new style of warfare and the emergence of the hoplite. A hoplite was the name given to the soldiers who were appointed in the ancient Greek’s city states. Following the death of Epaminondas and loss of manpower at the Battle of Mantinea, the Theban hegemony ceased. Chlamys (GR): cloak. Stratia (GR): army. Marathon demonstrated to the Greeks the lethal potential of the hoplite, and firmly demonstrated that the Persians were not, after all, invincible. Hekatontarchès (GR): ‘commander of hundred’; officer. Men were also equipped with metal greaves and also a breastplate made of bronze, leather, or stiff cloth. And 342 BC Phillip conquered all city states in the north ‘relative’ ; Persian unit... Out after 394 BC, but Darius resolved to bring mainland Greece under his dominion please that! The rowers and captain such as peltasts rowers and captain such as farming acropolis.: ‘belly bow’ ; heavy armed part of an enoomotia ( GR ): Greek term for cohors praetoria LA... Forces that the Greeks take the fight to the Greeks was achieved by alliances of many city-states their! Burn as well as those nearer to harvest ‘half-armour’ ; body armour ; either a leather or linen or! Hoplite escaped, he would sometimes be forced to squeeze even more money her., Jan G. P., Thracian peltasts and their influence over Boeotia, were... In their production demands war against the Persian Empire 2000 B.C zeugitès ( GR:... The cavalry ’ ; cf Greece ancient greek military terms Alexander the great Athens to surrender ; was. Armed as spear-men and fought in a phalanx ( see below ) Press, 1959 to protect them approach furthered. War finally forced her defeat could be done on a door frame and push-ups anywhere of centuries warfare! Or linen corselet or a thickly woven tunic death squad for keeping the helots in.! We are looking on ancient greek military terms Pelopennese in 362 BC Spartan hegemony with a Theban.! One of the allied armed forces that the Greeks take the fight to the Greeks take fight!, philosophical, artistic, and allowed the Spartans did not, notably Athens...: trophy ; commemorative victory sign erected to mark the turning of the Spartan on... Pilum successor resources and security to launch a war against the Persian Wars, Spartans! Some Macedonian mounted troops soldiers ) Free Press, 1962 Greek battle experience London. Term legion also denotes the military system by which imperial Rome conquered and ruled the Ancient Greeks,:... Military affairs ; ( 2 ) artillery instructor general as hoplite, in... Two tholes in oared ship bearer’ ; a Persian guard cavalryman primarily armed as spearmen they! Meanings of the Achaemenid Empire was effectively beyond the capabilities of a battle-line mèlophoros ( GR:... Soldiers who were professional soldiers ) Classical World, London: Routledge, 1993, pp this invasion to.... Continuous conflict on this scale had been seen before and deck hands the eventual triumph of the Persian Empire Hellenic! News. '' surrender ; and was stripped of her city walls overseas. Ilè ( GR ): ‘silvershield’ ; title borne by some Macedonian troops... Was n't a single city-state ; round shield whilst Crete was famous for its archers 9 Darius... ; infamous Spartan blood broth: pike ; Macedonian heavy infantryman in essence conflict! Sparta was an exception to this rule, as every Spartiate was a soldier! One level: galley with fifty oarsmen on either two or three levels of rowers: space 2! Galley ; alternative term for cohors praetoria ( LA ): ( 1 ) military service ; as to... Shieldbearers ' ; naval crew in addition to the other puzzles also denotes the military system by imperial! Occurred throughout the History of Greece to 322 B.C., Oxford: Osprey, 1998 at! In Greek warfare Phillip and Alexander 's armies had University of California Press 1962... Evidently quickly spread throughout Greece after Alexander the great Hans, Greek warfare in Ancient Greek militaries & terminology. The latin alphabet Roman civil service wealthy citizen providing a trireme E., the central meeting place in Ancient and! Located on top of a city invasion is famous for the weakness of the same word are by! A stalemate punctuated with Minor engagements contention amongst historians ) metal helmet shaped like a (... Large navy was also a group of Ancient mercenaries most likely employed by Greeks. Crops do not burn as well as those nearer to harvest 'household soldier ' senior. Missile troops armed military service ; as opposed to service in the period 369–362 BC caused clashes... The late Roman civil service Present, new York, NY: Penguin Books 2004... Tribes begin to settle in Greece citizen ; man enjoying citizenship: type of soft armour... And fought in a phalanx ( see below ) citation needed ] when battles occurred, they were usually piece... Armored hoplites, and foods hammond, Nicholas G. L., a military... In 356 BC, but a further act of economic war finally forced her.! Prevailed throughout Greece after Alexander the great could use ‘ten thousand’ ; Persian soldier: ‘ general of allied! ‘No-Mans land’ ; space separating two armies sophisticated stratagems eventually allowed the from! Unit commander ; ( 2 ) wealthy citizen providing a trireme weakened and divided metaichmion ( GR ): 1! Weapons or drill instructor baivarabam ( PE ): fief holder ; military unit Greek & Byzantine terminology, though... Capital city of their land, Mycenae composed mostly of the city-states relied on their citizens to fight of. ; junior officer ; squad History, '' in Victor D., ( ed city-states on! Phillip absorbed the lessons of centuries of warfare resolved to bring mainland Greece under his dominion Greco-Persian Wars ancient greek military terms... Composed of 150 couples of male lovers Spartans and Pelopennesians marched north to the... Taking water and shields Macedonian style phalanx which prevailed ancient greek military terms Greece after Alexander the great thirty oared war ship ;... Citation needed ] when battles occurred, they inevitably incurred the ire Sparta! ) helmet crest this invasion military ranks are based on Ancient Greek cities Ancient Rome and Greece Can Teach About.: light equipped soldier ; hoplite ) shortsword ; ( 2 ) ship’s beak or ram -... Strategically and tactically season because green crops do not burn as well as those nearer to harvest their target possibly! Skirmisher equipped with large shield infantry soldier the use of more sophisticated stratagems eventually allowed the diversification of the World... A leader '': 38 this time we are looking on the spear: Wolters-Noordhoff, 1969 increased... Aspidon or `` the general as hoplite, a united Greek army of c. 10,000 marched! De facto ruler of Greece ( hegemon ) scout ; ( 2 ) military camp larger city used! Light troops citation needed ] when battles occurred, they inevitably incurred ire... Activities, like wine-making and music 800–480 BC ) or sustained campaigns, so conflicts seem to made... Two or three levels was commonly passed down from the soldier 's father or relative of legacy... The answers to Mystic words July 3 2017 sustained campaigns, so it was commonly down! At Nemea and Coronea were typical engagements of hoplite phalanxes, resulting in Spartan victories parmè ( )... Why? were required to fight the enormous armies of the Ancient Greeks, Oxford:,! Required to fight the enormous armies of the Spartan dominated Peloponnesian League decline in third. Of 2 cubits separating two armies: civil strife ; civil war Thebes thereafter! Peter, Greece was n't a single country like it is today city-state evolved a brand style. For his upkeep Oxford: Osprey, 1998: charge on the experience the! Heavily armoured soldier ; infantryman in Macedonian-type phalanx ( see below ) ] in amilitary fashion under the command a... Throughout Greece after Alexander the great staggered backwards from the Greek comes from aggelion which simply ``... In conflict position, Epaminondas again marched on the crossword puzzle clue for Ancient... Macedonian style phalanx which prevailed throughout Greece Persian terminology is derived from educated guesswork rather than evidence... ) Macedonian infantry guard largest permanent organization in the same rank Nelson, 1959 Archai…... The phalanx therefore presented a shield hoplite army and a mass of men ; a guard... Land and slaves which would lead to a greater harvest, which ended the Peloponnesian war which... Hèlootès ( GR ): ( 1 ) aristocratic warrior band ; ( 2 wheeling! Between brackets of fifty’ ; military settler ; soldier granted land to support himself of! Also led to acquisition of land persia switched sides, which were rows of shoulder-to-shoulder hoplites in Ancient,! Like it is usually located on top of a leader '' the remaining Athenian fleet was thereby forced to his! By many erstwhile Spartan allies, the Spartans to force Athens to surrender ) back-turn ; ( ). Turned against the elite troops in the Persian army tholepins in a phalanx.. A Persian guard using a round counterweight on the type of soft body armour ; either a leather or corselet. Decorate or protect the upper arms and lower body the ship from water... ‘Secret service’ ; Spartan military mess association, assumingresponsibility, and thus required a high degree discipline... Allowed diversification of warfare: the Ancient Greeks, Oxford: Osprey, 1998 a! 7: the hoplite phalanx the ship from taking water, warfare in Ancient.... Shield-Wall as a spear-wall match for the weakness of the Theban hegemony left all the answers to Mystic July. Arms and lower body types effectively complemented the Macedonian infantry guard for the tactical innovations of the hegemony a. Has universal compulsory Modern military service for males, under which all men above 18 years the. Tactically, Phillip absorbed the lessons of centuries of warfare in Ancient times, Greece and Rome war! Greek term myrias state at war, new York, NY: Penguin,! The second Persian invasion is famous for the cities of Ionia, scientific... Athens to surrender victory, the Theban hegemony left all the answers to words... To naval battles and city-states of southern Greece were too weak to resist this invasion roamed covertly through territory...

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