Seleucid Army of Antiochus III - Battle of Raphia in 28mm - Part 3 (Right Wing)

[Hippocleides]

Hello everyone,

I thought I'd share a project I've been working on for the Battle of Raphia 217 BC. I've been collecting and painting up the Seleucid forces for the battle mainly using the following two sources for research on troop deployment and composition:
-Polybius, Book V
-The Seleucid Army of Antiochus the Great by Jean Charl du Plessis

In his book, Jean Charl Du Plessis provides really great insight on the equipment, composition and history of the army, along with some convincing speculation on the troop types, how they were armed and their role during the battle which I'll bring up later.  He also includes an image for the layout of the Seleucid army for the battle, which helps clarify the order of battle from Polybius and acts as a useful guide to follow for painting and determining numbers of figures, as sources for exact numbers of men in each unit tend to vary a bit depending on the translation of Polybius.

I'll break down these posts into 4 different sections for the army: the left wing, the phalanx, the right wing and lastly the entire army in formation. I aimed for a scale of 1 figure loosely representing 250-500 men.

Part 1 (The Left Wing)

"At the extreme point of the left wing Antiochus placed 2,000 cavalry under the command of Themison"
- Polybius

Themison - Wargames Foundry
Cavalry - Relic Miniatures

[Hippocleides]

"With these were 500 Lydian javelineers and 1,000 Cardaces under Lysimachus the Gaul"
- Polybius

Lysimachus the Gaul - Aventine Miniatures
Cardaces - Victrix and Wargames Atlantic
Lydians - Gorgon Miniatures

[Hippocleides]

"The remainder of the elephants he placed in front of his left wing under the command of Myiscus, one of the young men who had been brought up at court."
-Polybius

Elephant & Crew - Warlord Games
Elephant Guard - Victrix

[Hippocleides]

"There were Agrianian and Persian bowmen and slingers to the number of 2,000 and with them 2,000 Thracians, all under the command of Menedemus of Alabanda"
-Polybius

The banner for Menedemus references the founder of the city of Alabanda, Alabandus. According to legend, after he had won a prize in some sort of horse race, the people named him Alabandus, as the Carian word for "horse" was ala, and "victory" banda.

Menedemus - Aventine
Persian Archers - Footsore Miniatures
Agrianian Slingers - Gorgon Miniatures
Thracians - Aventine

[Hippocleides]

"Aspasianus the Mede had under him a force of about 5,000 Medes, Cissians, Cadusians, and Carmanians"
- Polybius

Aspasianus - Victrix
Troops - Victrix and Wargames Atlantic

[Hippocleides]

"The Arabs and neighboring tribes numbered about 10,000 and were commanded by Zabdibelus, continuing the line up to the phalanx"
- Polybius

These were a bit tricky as sources and depictions for pre-islamic Arab soldiers are lacking for this time period. I went with a mix inspired mostly by Nabataean, Arab tribesmen and some I think would fit as Syrian and Levant area levies. Some of the clothing and armor is probably a bit anachronistic but I think overall they look the part well. The banner references some common Nabataean symbols, such as the horns of plenty and sun.

Figures - Gripping Beast, Artizan Designs, Crusader Miniatures, Wargames Atlantic

[Hippocleides]

To be continued!

[Ran The Cid]

That's a fabulous looking army!  Each unit is so distinct. 

[rct75001]

Wonderful work.  I am going to enjoy watching this grow.
Richard

[aphillathehun]

Now *that* is an elephant!

Nice work all around.

[SJWi]

Beautiful work. I built and painted a Seleucid/Successor army a few years ago, but it has hardly been on the table.  I have the Du Plessis book but you might have inspired me to finally read it and maybe assemble and paint a few more of the "Arab/Eastern" units as most of my army has a distinctly "Greek" feel to it.

[Phil Robinson]

Excellent work! I am currently amassing figures for a Seleucid army this will be great inspiration for when I start painting them later in the year.

[Panzer21]

Lovely painting!
I'm sure there's a reference to the Arabs receiving "arms and equipment" before the battle .
If it's anywhere it would be Polybius; I may be misrembering and it could just be surmised and justification for giving them Hellenistic helmets and thureos as some miniaturists have done for their armies.....

BTW what rules are these designed for?

Neil

[Hippocleides]

Thanks everyone.

Lovely painting!
I'm sure there's a reference to the Arabs receiving "arms and equipment" before the battle .
If it's anywhere it would be Polybius; I may be misrembering and it could just be surmised and justification for giving them Hellenistic helmets and thureos as some miniaturists have done for their armies.....

BTW what rules are these designed for?

Neil

They're intended and based to be used for To the Strongest.

That is a good point and real possibility though I couldn't find clear evidence for them being equipped as such, I'm sure at least some would have had Hellenistic equipment. Polybius mentions they and the Medes broke when charged by the Ptolemaic Greek Mercenaries, so I interpreted it as that they wouldn't have been very well equipped and broke quickly. I'd imagine they just brought what they owned or maybe would not have been worth equipping 10,000 of them from the Seleucid armory, but that's pure speculation on my part.

The main reason I chose against the Hellenistic equipment route is just for variety in the army and having something different to paint other than more Greek stuff. Painting up all these phalangites can drive a man mad! I could probably get away with using them for other armies outside this specific time period without the Hellenistic gear as well.

[Easy E]

I love the mix of miniatures to give this army a distinct and very Eastern feel.  The lack of uniformity is a huge plus in my book!