Argyraspides
Sign in to saveThe Argyraspides () were elite Macedonian soldiers who carried silver-plated shields, hence their name. The original unit were hypaspists serving in the army of Alexander the Great. During the Wars of the Diadochi, they initially served Eumenes, but betrayed him to Antigonus I Monophthalmus at the Battle of Gabiene in 316. After their dispersal under Antigonus, later units of the Seleucid Empire and Roman Empire would be modeled after them.
Article
7 sectionsContents
- Alexander the Great
- Wars of the Diadochi
- Seleucid Empire
- Rome
- Notes
- References
- Further reading
The Argyraspides () were elite Macedonian soldiers who carried silver-plated shields, hence their name. The original unit were hypaspists serving in the army of Alexander the Great. During the Wars of the Diadochi, they initially served Eumenes, but betrayed him to Antigonus I Monophthalmus at the Battle of Gabiene in 316. After their dispersal under Antigonus, later units of the Seleucid Empire and Roman Empire would be modeled after them.
thumb|right|250px|Replica of the Argyraspides shield at the Athens War Museum ==Alexander the Great== They were a division of the Macedonian army of Alexander the Great. They were picked men commanded by Nicanor, the son of Parmenion, as well as Seleucus, and were held in high honor by Alexander. They were hypaspists, having changed their name to the Argyraspides whilst in India under Alexander.