Psiloi
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In Ancient Greek warfare, Psiloi (Ancient Greek ψιλοί, singular ψιλός[1], literally “bare, stripped”) were infantry without heavy armor, usually archers or javelin throwers.
They were contrasted with hoplites (heavy infantrymen).
By deploying psiloi tactically, that is, by keeping them at a distance from enemy hoplites, the Athenians were able to defeat the Spartans in the Battle of Sphacteria.[2]
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[edit] Notes
- ^ Henry George Liddell & Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, ψιλός.
- ^ Psiloi used tactically, by keeping them at at distance from enemy hoplites: Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War 4.32.4–4.36.3.
