Military science Hellenistic period

hellenistic warfare continuation of military developments of iphicrates , philip ii of macedon, particularly use of macedonian phalanx, dense formation of pikemen, in conjunction heavy companion cavalry. armies of hellenistic period differed of classical period in being largely made of professional soldiers , in greater specialization , technical proficiency in siege warfare. hellenistic armies larger of classical greece relying increasingly on greek mercenaries (misthophoroi; men-for-pay) , on non-greek soldiery such thracians, galatians, egyptians , iranians. ethnic groups known martial skill in particular mode of combat , highly sought after, including tarantine cavalry, cretan archers, rhodian slingers , thracian peltasts. period saw adoption of new weapons , troop types such thureophoroi , thorakitai used oval thureos shield , fought javelins , machaira sword. use of heavily armored cataphracts , horse archers adopted seleucids, greco-bactrians, armenians , pontus. use of war elephants became common. seleucus received indian war elephants mauryan empire, , used them effect @ battle of ipsus. kept core of 500 of them @ apameia. ptolemies used smaller african elephant.

ancient mechanical artillery: catapults (standing), chain drive of polybolos (bottom center), gastraphetes (on wall)

hellenistic military equipment characterized increase in size. hellenistic-era warships grew trireme include more banks of oars , larger numbers of rowers , soldiers in quadrireme , quinquereme. ptolemaic tessarakonteres largest ship constructed in antiquity. new siege engines developed during period. unknown engineer developed torsion-spring catapult (c. 360) , dionysios of alexandria designed repeating ballista, polybolos. preserved examples of ball projectiles range 4.4 kg 78 kg (or on 170 lbs). demetrius poliorcetes notorious large siege engines employed in campaigns, during 12-month siege of rhodes when had epimachos of athens build massive 160 ton siege tower named helepolis, filled artillery.