Psiloi

The Psiloi (Greek: ψιλοί ) were very lightly armed units in the Greek military system.

Description

This unit was the dregs of the Greek army. They were lightly armed skirmishers who were very mobile, but wore no protection weapons. They resembled the peltasts, but they had no shields. It gave the following subgroups of Psiloi:

• Gymnitai ( lightly armed infantrymen )
• Evzonoi (light spearmen )
• Grosfomachoi ( Swordsman )
• Akontistai ( spear thrower )
• Sfendonitai and Lithovoloi (both stone thrower )
• Toxotai ( archer )

On the battlefield, they were used as shock troops or for diversion. They marched in any closed formation.

The Psiloi oppose heavy hoplites were quite successful, such as in the Battle of Sphacteria, in the Psiloi and peltasts won against Spartan hoplites.

History

The Psiloi there were in the entire Greek army history. Often inexperienced fighters were made ​​to Psiloi because there was no money for a more expensive equipment in emergency situations. Even for men who had to do military service, but had no money for expensive equipment, the Psiloi were the only military option. Sometimes they were forcibly recruited, who had to take these dangerous and unprotected items on the battlefield.

In the Byzantine Empire Psiloi were also used. There, the more of a generic term for skirmishers was but general. In Byzantium the Psiloi marched in straight lines and were already protected at the beginning of the battle behind the heavy infantry, from where they then hurled their missiles to the enemy.