Any thoughts as to appearance of early Ptolemaic machimoi?

[DBS]

I know the machimoi do not seem to have been used extensively by the Ptolemies before Raphia - and of course at Raphia they seem to have been largely or wholly phalangites - but they did put in an appearance at Raphia.  Duncan suggested in AMPW that they may have been used in a light role there.

So, is anyone aware of any evidence of their appearance in the late 4th and early 3rd centuries?  I am inclined to suspect that the big body shields mentioned under the Achaemenids might have been a bit passe, especially if they were now more of a paramilitary security force, so am leaning towards a fairly generic tunic, small to medium round shield, light spear or javelins, shortish sword or axe.  I will only be doing 6mm, so can get away with such generalities...

[Andreas Johansson]

I think your 2nd "Raphia" is supposed to be "Gaza"?

FWIW, Essex has a Saite Egyptian Spearman with round shield looking rather like your description, so if you're wrong you're at least so in the neighbourhood of good company.

[Duncan Head]

Of his army some were Macedonians and some were mercenaries, but a great number were Egyptians, of whom some carried the missiles and the other baggage but some were armed and serviceable for battle.

Thus Diodoros describing Gaza, so there do seem to have been Egyptians fighting there. The Essex Saite that Andreas cited is based on a drawing in Stillman & Tallis, which in turn is based on Egyptian-looking figures on Phoenician metalwork, such as the dish in the Regolini-Galassi tomb. So it's a few centuries earlier than Gaza - maybe 6th or 7th - but it might give a possible general idea. I don't think we have any closer sources.

[DBS]

Yes, I did mean Gaza for the early appearance.  I was aware of the two Nigels' exemplar, but as you say, conscious quite a bit earlier.  I think I will go for the generic chaps with round shield and spear.  Thank you, just wanted to check I had not overlooked a reference.