Thracian Archers

Description

Archery is an age-old tradition among Thracians, but the practice only barely survived into Hellenistic times. Thracian archers can be found in the northern areas of Thrace, as hunters, or possibly as mercenaries in foreign armies. They are only lightly equipped, wearing fox-skin hats of the Phrygian style, Thracian boots, and their famed patterned tunics. Thracian Archers are armed with composite bows and arrows stored in Scythian quivers. In contrast to Thracian peltasts, the archers have no use in melee combat, and should stay away from heavy infantry and especially cavalry. Furthermore, their lack of armour, shields or helmets might make these men more vulnerable to professional archers fielded by their neighbours.

Historical background

The bow was widespread in bronze age Thrace, probably both as a hunting tool and as a weapon. The use of the bow in battles, however, declined as time went on. Still, many arrowheads have been found in 5th century BC tombs (Sears, ‘Athens, Thrace and the Shaping of Athenian Leadership’ (2013), p. 87). Some of the archers Kleon led at Pylos in 425 BC could have been Thracians (Thuk. IV.28.4). The generalization of "Thracians" in the sources, however, makes it hard to differentiate between specific tribes and armament. It is likely that the Getai, due to their proximity to the Scythians, retained the bow as a weapon, while the southern Thracians rather used the javelin. Thus, these Thracian archers are equipped with Scythian quivers, as suggested for the Agrianes by Du Plessis (Seleucid Army (2022), p. 140). Iconographic sources mainly show Thracians armed with javelins and peltai, but not bows. An exception to that is a 5th century BC silver gilt belt from Lovech (Webber (2003), fig. 9), which depicts an archer wearing Thracian boots, a Phrygian cap, a skirt, and a composite bow. Depending on the need, Thracians might have been trained in archery by their employer. In the army of Antiochos III, the Thracian Agrianes are mentioned together with the Persians as archers and slingers (Pol. V.79.6). Previously, however, they most likely only served as javelinmen under Alexander (Arr. Anab. I. 14. 1).