peltastae

• , πελτασταί, soldiers armed with the pelt, peltasts, L., N.

PELTASTAE[EXERCITUSVol. 1.776.]

(πελτασταί). The Greek light-armed foot-soldiers, forming an arm intermediate between the heavily equipped hoplites and the sharp-shooters (γυμνῆτες). The name is taken from the πέλτη, a light shield of Thracian origin. (See clipeus.) For attack they had a javelin, or ἀκόντιον, and a long sword. These troops originated in Thrace and North Greece, and the peltastae serving in the Peloponnesian War and in the armies of the younger Cyrus and Agesilaüs belonged to those countries. Iphicrates equipped his mercenaries with this kind of armament, introducing at the same time linen doublets and, instead of greaves, what were called after him ἰφικρατίδες, something between boots and leggings (Diod.xv. 44). In the Macedonian army their place was taken by the ὑπασπισταί. See exercitus.