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There is an illustration somewhere, I think Peter Connolly - Greece and Rome at War possibly an Osprey on the Persians which shows a file of Persian archers with a sparabara at the front and a leader at the rear of the file. The former has the large reed "pavis" spara, spear and hand weapon. Archers with bow, bowcase and hand weapon, possibly also a pelta or small round shield.Leader with bow (in case), spear and if memory serves correctly a whip! Ignoring the latter, I'd base these guys up in mixed units spear to the front and bows at the rear. I'd have the leader off set to the back left or right (especially for unit bases like Impetus). If you're worried that later Persian units weren't sparabara type formations with hoplite type spears replacing the spara then it would be two ranks of those per base and a separate base of archers. Having units of just archers would be useful for sets with big units too. If you want them meleeing then a mix of swords, axes, spears etc all together wouldn't be uncorrect. It's down to your preference and choice of rules at the end of the day.
That was my understanding of how a Persian archer unit worked as well. They were mixed units with the spearmen and a large shield up front, backed by several archers. For some reason a Spara armed trooper in front of a file of 9 archers comes to mind, but I would need to go back and find my source.... John Warry and Warfare in the Ancient World maybe? I think this kit could easily create that look.
The large wicker (pavisee) barricade was more a protection from missiles than as a barricade to heavy infantry.
Maybe a single line of spearmen holding pavises was a psychological barrier for the archers standing behind them rather than a physical deterrent for the enemy?
That's the one. Excellent book if you can get your mitts on it Harry.
Ah, I was referring to the one line of spearmen as opposed to the sparabara.I cannot see one rank of spearmen deterring anything that came at them on two legs, or worse four. This is just not how spearmen fight defensively IMHO. You need ranks or you may as well just get stuck in with your sword.