Hoplite shields for ca. 400 BC?

[Peter Rathgeb]

Hi all,

I'm slowly collecting and painting elements of Cyrus the Younger's army at Cunaxa, i.e. 401 BC, in 1/72 scale.

One of these elements will be the Greek Mercenary Hoplites (the "Ten Thousand").

I am looking for a source of reliable information, maybe some examples, on a couple of their shield designs.

I know, there are lots of decals for Hoplite shields, but I would like to have the right time frame, so maybe between 450 and 400 BC.

Any reference help is greatly appreciated!

Thanks and cheers,
Peter

[cadbren]

Taken from the wiki:
According to Xenophon, the Ten Thousand were composed of:

4,000 hoplites under Xenias the Arcadian, until he deserted in Syria
1,500 hoplites and 500 light infantry under Proxenus of Boeotia
1,000 hoplites under Sophaenetus of Stymfalia
500 hoplites under Socrates the Achaean (not to be confused with the philosopher)
300 hoplites and 300 peltasts under Pasion the Megarian, until he deserted in Syria
1,000 hoplites, 800 Thracian peltasts, and 200 Cretan archers (and more than 2,000 men who came from Xenias and Pasion when they deserted) under Clearchus of Sparta
300 hoplites under Sosis the Syracusan[22]
700 Spartan hoplites under Cheirisophus the Spartan
1,000 hoplites and 500 Thessalian peltasts under Menon[23]
400 Greek mercenaries who had deserted from Artaxerxes' army

I'm sure there are books on the subject but an online image search for 5th century bc vase painting with the specified culture - Athenian/Attic, Spartan/Laconian etc should give some good ideas. This was the classic era with much of the Greek world being short haired but the Spartans were long haired.

[Peter Rathgeb]

Thank you, cadbren!

That's really useful!

I have not have the idea to search under the "Ten Thousand", so I just found the wiki entry for "Cunaxa", where there is much less detail on the composition of the Greek mercenaries.

Cheers,
Peter