Darius\' Mercenaries

[Johnny Shumate]

What blazon would be on a shield of Greek mercenary in Darius' army? Greek letter of a polis..? Mythical character..? Some type of deity..?
Thanks,
Johnny

[Jona Lendering]

If they were serving for a long time in the Persian army (and Memnon's men did: they had served under Mentor and had taken part in the reconquest of Egypt in 346), I think they would have adapted a symbol that was acceptable to Greeks and Persians alike. A bull, eagle, sphinx, griffin, for example, but certainly not a lion (symbol of evil/Ahriman).

[Johnny Shumate]

What cities were they from? I what to say Athens and Rhodes predominately....
Johnny

[hoplite14gr]

If they were hired as a group from an area they would be probably having the same shield device.

I asume you probably talk about Dareios Kodomanos who fought Alexander.
By that time the city monogram had substituted the older devices with the probable exception of Thebes.

Troops could have been raised either from mainland Greece or the Ionic or even Pontic colonies.

We have no evidence (at least for the time being) that Dareios presented colors or symbols to a unit or continent.

I do not agree with Jona completely because at a late Era the raven was an ill omen to ""Romeoi" but the Varangians used it none the less.

Greek spearmen were elit in the Persian army but not bodyguard unit so they could maintain their own shield devices.

Kind regards