Why did the oval shield replace the scutum?

[Darth_Roach]

Xenophon repeatedly tells in the Cyropaedia (eg. 4.2.22) that his fictional Persians were armed with gerron, thorax, and either sagaris (an Iranian or Scythian axe) or machaira (a chopping sword). They fought in ranks and files with about a square yard of space per man. I believe that the military scenes in the Cyropaedia are supposed to instruct Greek readers, so clearly he believed that men armed "like the Persians in pictures" could behave similarly to Greek hoplites. Whether his fictional armament was ever seen in real life is another question!

But the "gerron" doesn't necessarily mean a taka, it could also be a spara. Also, in Xenophon's Cyropaedia Persians are merely Spartans with eastern names and clothes.


Also, Sempronius, I think Robert is right in that your view is a bit outdated. No offense, of course.