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General Category => Army Research => Topic started by: vexillia on Jan 20, 2026, 10:25 AM

Title: Hellenistic Cavalry Shields
Post by: vexillia on Jan 20, 2026, 10:25 AM
I've been putting together a new blog post on the above.  I'm looking to simplify things as much as possible. Here are my notes for comment:

Screenshot_2026-01-20_10-20-59.png

I also have an AI summary (which I am very cautious of), but would also like comments on:

Screenshot_2026-01-20_10-21-26.png

Have fun.  ;)
Title: Re: Hellenistic Cavalry Shields
Post by: RichT on Jan 20, 2026, 10:38 AM
Duncan is your man for this, my comments would just be:

For 'Phyrric' read 'Pyrrhic', throughout.

What about Ptolemaic?

Yes, the thureos is an infantry shield, adopted only (or mostly only?) after the Gallic invasions. Cavalry, when they have shields (3rd C on), have round ones.

Are you saying Seleucid list has no cavalry other than Galatian after 245? That's wrong if so.
Title: Re: Hellenistic Cavalry Shields
Post by: vexillia on Jan 20, 2026, 11:07 AM
Oops!  Thanks.
Title: Re: Hellenistic Cavalry Shields
Post by: vexillia on Jan 20, 2026, 11:10 AM
Quote from: RichT on Jan 20, 2026, 10:38 AMAre you saying Seleucid list has no cavalry other than Galatian after 245? That's wrong if so.

List switches Cv for Cataphracts after 205 BC.
Title: Re: Hellenistic Cavalry Shields
Post by: vexillia on Jan 20, 2026, 11:10 AM
Quote from: RichT on Jan 20, 2026, 10:38 AMWhat about Ptolemaic?

Will add.
Title: Re: Hellenistic Cavalry Shields
Post by: Duncan Head on Jan 20, 2026, 11:41 AM
Cavalry shields are usually round.

Asklepiodotos mentions cavalry thureophoroi: spear-armed cavalry is sometimes called thureophoroi "when it, sometimes, carries unusually long⁠ shields for the purpose of protecting the mount as well as the rider". There are also occasional Hellenistic depictions of cavalry with oval thureoi, though they may all be Celts or Thracians - this article by Nick Sekunda (https://rcin.org.pl/Content/22462/WA308_34840_PIII348_INTRODUCTION-OF-CAVA_I.pdf) might be useful.

Sekunda's Osprey Ptolemaic book has a stela showing a Thessalian unarmoured cavalryman with a small, almost square shield with a central thureos-like rib. Can't find a version online now but he's the source for this Donnington figure (https://shop.ancient-modern.co.uk/hc17-ptolemaic-tarantineethnic-cavalry-138-p.asp)!
Title: Re: Hellenistic Cavalry Shields
Post by: vexillia on Jan 20, 2026, 04:13 PM
Quote from: Duncan Head on Jan 20, 2026, 11:41 AMthis article by Nick Sekunda (https://rcin.org.pl/Content/22462/WA308_34840_PIII348_INTRODUCTION-OF-CAVA_I.pdf) might be useful.

Thanks.  Very good stuff.  Do you know when the paper was written?
Title: Re: Hellenistic Cavalry Shields
Post by: Adrian Nayler on Jan 20, 2026, 04:46 PM
Quote from: vexillia on Jan 20, 2026, 04:13 PM
Quote from: Duncan Head on Jan 20, 2026, 11:41 AMthis article by Nick Sekunda (https://rcin.org.pl/Content/22462/WA308_34840_PIII348_INTRODUCTION-OF-CAVA_I.pdf) might be useful.

Thanks.  Very good stuff.  Do you know when the paper was written?

Sekunda, N.V. (2006) 'The Introduction of Cavalry Thureophoroi into Greek Warfare,' Fasciculi Archaeologiae Historicae, Vol. 19, pp. 9-14.
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