Sogdian Infantry before 200BC

[Jim Webster]

I picked the end date to avoid Central Asian City states which are totally different 

I was thinking of adding some Sogdian troops to my Persian forces (to fight against the Greeks in 5th century and also against Alexander in the 4th century BC)

I've checked my Herodotus and he states, "The Parthians, Chorasmians, Sogdians, Gandarians, and Dadicae in the army had the same equipment as the Bactrians."

As for the Bactrians, "The Bactrians in the army wore a headgear most like to the Median, carrying their native bows of reed, and short spears."

I'm not sure if anybody mentions them in any detail, so basically more Bactrians.


In 15mm I assume my choice is between War & Empire - Early Persian, Bactrian Infantry


and/or Essex miniatures  "MPA120 Achaemenid Persian: Sogdian or Chorasmian Javelinman with separate cased bow"

https://www.essexminiatures.co.uk/products/mpa120

Anybody got any other suggestions?

[Duncan Head]

The Sogdian on the Achaemenid royal tombs is dressed in basically Saka style - longer wrapover coat, low pointy cap - Bactrians are in a more Median style of dress. That's how I had a Sogdian drawn in my Montvert Persian book. And it might be what the Essex figure represents, if they've mistaken the decorative trim round the upper arms for short sleeves. You could mix those with Scythian figures, maybe.

[Jim Webster]

Thanks for that. It'll help push this year's figure purchases forward a bit.

I was also wondering about Uxians and Susianians
The 'Mountain' Uxians seem reasonably tough. Nearchus has them as one of the four predatory peoples of the southwest along with the Mardi, Sousii, and Elymaei.

[Duncan Head]

I'd go for figures like the Xyston Kissians and Elymaians, probably.

[Jim Webster]

Thanks for that Duncan,
This means that I'm now at the delightful stage of looking at websites and working out what I need 

[DBS]

For what it is worth, Strabo (Bk XI, Chap 11) describes both the Bactrians and Sogdians "in early times" as being similar to the nomads (presumably Scythians) in custom. Now, custom of course does not necessarily dictate appearance, but it certainly chimes with Duncan's observations.  There is also the city of the Branchidae, supposedly transplanted by Xerxes from Didyma in the west of the empire, and massacred by Alexander for their forebears' sacrilege.  Presumably they might have been retained some Carian characteristics?

[Jim Webster]

Curtis says they were multilingual, it was a small town, and the Mysians in Alexander's army hated them. Whether there were enough of them to actually be summoned for military service I wouldn't know.