The Armies of Ptolemaic Egypt -First Impressions

 

More properly The Armies of Ptolemaic Egypt - Cleruchs, Mercenaries and Machimoi by Stéphane Thion. New and expanded and in English for the first time. A book then, from Helion.  Why First Impressions? Because there is an awful lot here. I cannot hope to review with justice the scholarship therein. Space prohibits it.

I can say if you fancy doing a Ptolemaic Army this book will see you alright  for the early, middle and last armies. The page count is 151, a paper back with 30 pages of full colour  illustrations by the author. 

The style is reminiscent of the old WRG books if your memory stretches that far. The illustrations are first rate and the product of diligent research. Mind you, conjecture finds its place too.  You see two plates from the book on this page.

For example we have a page showing the colours of soldiers chitons and chlamydes (tunics and cloaks) incredibly useful.

There are other photographs and black and white drawings of surviving depictions and reconstructions of the Ptolemaic soldiers. You can see some of mine on this page.

Here are the chapter headings ignoring the dedication (to Angus McBride) acknowledgements, sources and intro etc.

The Ptolemaic Dynasty

Main Components of the Ptolemaic Army

Organisation of the Ptolemaic Army in the Third Century BCE

Ptolemaic Army in Battle Gaza, Raphia and Panion

The Transformation of the Ptolemaic Army in the second century BCE

The Fall the first century BCE

Military and Civilian Dress

An opponent of the Ptolemaic Dynasty: The Jewish Army of the Second and First Century BCE

Conclusion and Appendix: Numbered and ethnic evidence of hipparchies.

I paid less than £20 for my copy including postage. Money well spent. If you are interested in the Diadochi or Ptolemaic Egypt this book will not disappoint.

We will be back at Balaclava next week.