08-16-2012, 04:58 AM
I am not sure regarding the probability of the word actually having been "peltastae". It is remarkable how few times Arrian uses any derivative of this word in any of his surviving works. He mentions "peltastikon" twice and a handful of times (4) the word "pelte" as a shield! I hadn't really noticed that fact until I looked it up in an effort to see how probable it would be and the result practically shocked me. I would suggest a term that would not denote their "heaviness" but something that would place them within the ranks of the legion like "hoplitae", assuming that the main battle-line would also partake in the hurling of javelins. Hmmm.... who knows... What about the other issue?
