a considerable number of the wisest men in Sparta. Agesipolis was attended with no less than thirty; and though the tenderness of his age might occasion that extraordinary provision, yet, in wars of great concern or danger, and such as were carried on in remote countries, kings of the greatest experience and most eminent for conduct, were not trusted without a great number of counsellors; for we are told, that Agesilaus himself, when he made his expedition into Asia, was obliged by a decree of the people, to take thirty along with him. Besides these, the general was guarded by three hundred valiant Spartans, called 'I, or horsemen, who fought about his person, and were much of the same nature with Romulus's lifeguards, called celeres, or light-horse, as Dionysius of Halicarnassus reports. Before him fought all those that had obtained prizes in the sacred games, which was looked upon as one of the most honourable posts in the army, and esteemed equivalent to all the glorious rewards conferred on those victors in other cities d. The chief of the subordinate officers was called Пexuagxos. The titles of the rest will easily be understood from the names of the parties under their command, being all derived from them; such 28, Λοχαγωγοί, Πεντηκοσῆρες, Ενωμοτάρχαι, &c. CHAP. VI. Of the several Divisions and Forms of the Grecian Army with other Military Terms. THE whole army, as compounded of horse and foot, was called Γρατία. The front μέτωπον, οι πρῶτος ζυγός· the right-hand man of which, as in other places, was goτosάrns the wings, xgata, of which some make Pan, Bacchus's general in his Indian expedition, to have been the first inventor; the soldiers herein, and their leader, παρατάται those in the middle ranks, ἐπιτάται the rear ἔσχατος ζυγός, οὐρὰ, and the person that brought up the rear, οὐραγος, Οι ὀπισθόφυλαξε· which seem to have been common names for any others that obtained the like places in smaller bodies. Πεμπάς was a party of five soldiers; its leader, Πεμπάδαρχος. a Xenophon 'Exλ lib. v. b Plutarchus Agesilao et Xenophon. c Thucydides, lib. v. Orbicius. Axas of ten; its leader, Axadagxes. And so of the rest, Aixos, consisted of eight, as others of twelve, or as some of sixteen, which was a complete xs, though some make that to contain no less than twenty-five. It is sometimes termed sixos, or deκανία, and its leader Λοχαγός. Δίμοιρια, οι Ημιλοχία, was an half λόχος ; its leader Διμοιρίτης, οι Ημιλοχίτης. Συλλοχισμός Was a conjunction of several λόχοι sometimes it is termed rusaris, which consisted of four half, or two complete xoxo, consisting of thirty-two men. Пertxovtagxia, however the name imports only fifty, was usually a double rusas, consisting of four λox, or sixty-four men whence its leader was not only termed Πεντηκόνταρχος, but Τετράρχης, and for πεντηκονταρχία, we sometimes find τετραρχία. Εκατόνταρχία, sometimes called τάξις, consisted of two of the former, containing an hundred and twenty-eight men. Its commander was anciently called Tažiagxos, but afterwards the name of Εκατόνταρχος generally prevailed. Το every ἑκατονταρχία were assigned five necessary attendants, called "ExTaxTo, as not being reckoned in the ranks with the soldiers. These were, 1. ErgaToxngu, the crier, who conveyed by voice the words of command. He was usually a man of strong lungs the most remarkable of any in story was Homer's Stentor, who, he tells us, was able to shout as loud as any fifty f. *Ενθα τᾶσ ̓ ἤϋσε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ηρη, Heaven's empress mingles with the mortal crowd, POPE. 2. Enepogos, the ensign, remitted by signs the officer's commands to the soldiers; and was of use in conveying things not to be pronounced openly, or discovered, and when the noise of war drowned the crier's voice. 3. Zaλiserns, or trumpeter, was necessary, as well to signify to the soldiers the will of their commanders, when dust rendered the two former useless, as to animate and encourage them, and on several other accounts. 4. 'Yaigirns, was a servant, that waited on the soldiers, to supply them with necessaries. These four were placed next to the foremost rank. f Iliad. . v. 784. 5. Ogays, the lieutenant, brought up the rear, and took care that none of the soldiers were left behind, or deserted. Σύνταγμα, παράταξις, ψιλαγία, and, according to some, ξεναγία was compounded of two ragus, being made up of two hundred and fifty-six men. The commander, Evvta[μarágxns. Πεντακοσιαρχία, or ξεναγία, contained two συντάγματα, i. e. five hundred and twelve men. The commander's name was Πεντακοσιάς Xns, or Eevayos. Χιλιαρχία, σύσρεμμα, and (as some think), ξεναγία was the former doubled, and consisted of a thousand and twenty-four. The commander, Χιλίαρχος, Χιλίοτος, or Συςρεμματάρχης. Megagxia, by some called ríos, by others invayia, contained two of the former, i. e. two thousand and forty-eight. The commander, Μεράρχης, Τελάρχης, οι Επίξεναίος. Φαλαγ[αρχία, sometimes called μέρος, ἀποτομὴ κέρατος, σίφος, and by the ancients serie, was compounded of two rian, and contained four thousand four score and sixteen; or four thousand and thirty-six, according to others. The officer, aλay[άexas, and Στρατηγός. Διφαλαγγία κέρας, ἐπίτα[μα, and (as some think), μέρος, was almost a duplicate of the former; for it consisted of eight thousand one hundred and thirty-two. The commander's title was Kigdgns. Τετραβαλα γαρχαία contained about two διφαλαγγίαι, or sixteen thousand three hundred fourscore and four. The commander, Ts τραφαλα[γάρχης. Páλay is sometimes taken for a party of twenty-eight men, sometimes of eight thousand; but a complete pay is said to be the same with Τετραβαλα γαρχία. Several other numbers are signi fied by this name, it being frequently taken for the whole body of foot, and as often in general for any company of soldiers. Indeed the Grecian battles were usually ranged into an order peculiarly termed phalanx; which was of such strength, that it was able to bear any shock, with what violence soever charged upon them, The Macedonians were the most famous for this way of embattling; their phalanx is described by Polybius to be a square battail of pikemen, consisting of sixteen in flank, and five hundred in front; the soldiers standing so close together, that the pikes of the fifth rank were extended three feet beyond the front of the battail the rest, whose pikes were not serviceable by reason of their distance from the front, couched them upon the shoulders of those that stood before them; and so locking them together in file, pressed forward to support and push on the former ranks, whereby the assault was rendered more violent and irresistible. The commander was called Φαλαγάρχης. Mãxos Páλwyfos, was the length or first rank of the phalanx, reaching from the farthest extremity of one wing to that of another. It is the same with μέτωπον, πρόσωπον, τόμα, παράταξις, πρωτολογία, πρωτοsáτui, Tęãtos, Zuyòs, &c. The ranks behind were called, according to their order, δεύτερος, τριτος ζυγός, &c. Βάθος, οι πάχος φάλαγγος, sometimes called τάχος, was the depth, consisting in the number of ranks from front to rear. Zuyoi Qúλayos, were the ranks taken according to the length of the phalanx. Zix, or xix, were the files measured according to the depth. Διχοτομία Φάλαγγος, the distribution of the phalanx into two equal portions, which were termed Asugai, nigara, &c. or wings: the left of these was κέρας ευώνυμον, and ρα· the right, κέρας δεξιὸν, κεφαλὴ, δεξιὸν ἀκρωτήριον, δεξιὰ ἀρχὴ, &c. *Αραξος, ὀμφαλός, συνεχὴ φάλαγγος, the body, or middle part between the wings. Λεπτυσμὸς φάλαγγος, the lessening the depth of the phalanx, by cutting off some of its files. Ορθία, ἑτερομήκης, οι παραμήκης φάλαγξ, acies recta, or the herse, wherein the depth exceeded the length. Пλayiz Qurays, differed from the former, being broad in front, and narrow in flank; whereas the other was narrow in front, and broad in flank 8. Aoğn Páλay, or obliqua acies, when one wing was advanced near the enemy's, to begin the battle, the other holding off at a convenient distance. Αμφίνομος φάλαγξ, when the soldiers were placed back to back, that they might every way face their enemies; which form of battalia was used when they were in danger of being surrounded. Artisquos Páλay differed herein from the former, that it was formed length-wise, and engaged at both flanks; whereas the former engaged at front and rear. AuQisouos dıQara[yla, when the leaders were placed in both fronts, but the Ovgayoi, who followed the rear, transplanted into the middle, so that their enemies were confronted on all sides. Αντίςομος διφαλαγγία was contrary to the former, having the Οὐρα and their rear on the two sides, and the rest of the commanders Elian, Tacticis. who were placed at other times in the front, in the midst, facing one another; in which form, the front opening in two parts, so closed again, that the wings succeeded in its place, and the last ranks were transplanted into the former place of the wings. Ομοιόςομος διφαλαγγία, was, when both the phalanxes had their officers on the same side, one marching behind the other in the same form. Ετερόςομος διφαλαγγία, when the commanders of one phalanx were placed on the right flank, in the other on the left. Пsλeyμém Páλay, when its form was changed, as the ways required, through which it marched. Επικαμπής φάλαγξ represented an half moon, the wings turned backwards, and the main body advanced toward the enemy, or, on the contrary. The same was called xvgrǹ and zoi^n, being convex and hollow. Εσπαρμένη φάλαγξ, when the parts of the battalia stood at an unequal distance from the enemy, some jutting out before others. 'Yegparay[1015, when both wings were extended beyond the ad verse army's front; when only one, vжigxigwσis. Ρομβοειδής φάλαγξ, called likewise σφηνοειδής, a battalia with four equal, but not rectangular, sides, representing the figure of a diamond. This figure was used by the Thessalians, being first contrived by their countryman Jason. Indeed most of the common forms of battalia in Greece, in Sicily also, and Persia, seem to have been devised after this, or some other square 1. "Eμbonov, rostrum, or cuneus, was a rhombus divided in the middle, having three sides, and representing the figure of a wedge, or the letter A. The design of this form was to pierce, and enter forcibly into the enemy's body. Kodubonov, or forfex, was the cuneus transversed, and wanting the basis; it represented a pair of sheers, or the letter V; and seems to have been designed to receive the cuneus. Пion, Пvela, laterculus, an army drawn up in the figure of a brick or tile, with four unequal sides; its length was extended towards the enemy, and exceeded the depth. Пúgyos, turris, was the brick inverted, being an oblong square, after the fashion of a tower, with the small end towards the enemy. This form is mentioned by Homer 1; Οἱ δέ τε πυργηδὸν σφέας αὐτὸ ἀρτύναντες. Elianus Tacticis, qui ubique in hoc capite consulendus. i Iliad. μ'. v. 43. |