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Short description

These well-armoured archers, equipped with bows, knives and shields, will shower deadly volleys of arrows upon their enemies.

Description

Toxotai (archers) were recruited from the lower classes and poorer citizens of Greek societies, who could not afford the full panoply of a Hoplite (Pritchard, Athenian Democracy at War, p. 65). Archery was often considered a cowardly practice, since these soldiers did not adhere to the Greek ideal of bravery and holding the line, but rather ran away in the face of danger and fought from a safe distance. Due to the heavy use of archery in Persian and Scythian armies, the Greeks associated this practice with barbarism, though their own toxotai never reached the professionalism of Persian archers (Pritchard, Athenian Democracy at War, p. 70-72). Nevertheless, toxotai, just like other psiloi, were an important part of Greek armies, as the heavily armoured hoplites were unable to oppose them if they were not supported by light infantry or cavalry of their own. They were especially useful on ships, where they could use the distance to their advantage to kill enemy rowers, sailors, and marines from afar (Pritchard, Athenian Democracy at War, p. 68). These Massaliote archers are armed with bows and daggers and protected by a small round Pelte shields, light Linothorakes, and Pilos helmets.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Massalia was founded around 600 BC by Ionian adventurers from Phokaia, and quickly grew into the most influential Greek emporion in the West. Its traditional Ionian laws were upheld over the centuries, producing a small and conservative, but proud and affluent citizenry (Strab. IV.1.4). Members of this class, whose ancestors had been citizens of Massalia for more than three generations, and who already had children of their own, were allowed to join the ruling council of 600, the timouchoi.

From the late 6th century onwards, Massalia exerted influence throughout Gaul, both via trade and by erecting several fortified colonies of its own along the Southern Gallic coast (Strab. 4.1.5). After rising tensions with its Celto-Ligurian neighbours from the 2nd century onwards, Massalia increasingly called the Romans into its wars for assistance, resulting in the establishment of the Roman province of Gallia Narbonensis in 118 BC (Cic. Font. 5,13; Vell. Pat. I, 15, 5). During the civil war between Pompey and Caesar, the conservative timouchoi unsurprisingly sided with the Senate, thereby provoking a lengthy siege by Caesar in 49 BC (Caes. Civ. 2, 22). After a first naval defeat, Massalia, in its desperation, armed several fishing barks with archers and siege engines, and placed roofs on them to protect their rowers (Caes. Civ. 2, 4). Along with the allied fleet of Lucius Nasidius, Massalia engaged the Caesarian fleet one last time, but was ultimately defeated (Caes. Civ. 2, 7). After a prolonged siege, Caesar overcame the city but acknowledged its autonomy. Massalia remained a free city well into the imperial period (Strab. IV, 1, 5).