Arrian\'s Rhizians

[Anonymous]

Arrian's Order of Battle Against the Alans includes troops called "Rhizian lonchophoroi". Does anyone know who they were? One reference couples them with Colchians - is Rhizion/Rhizia a town or district in or near Colchis? <p></p><i></i>

[Vincula]

Apparently a town on the eastern Black Sea coast.<br>
<img src="http://www.members.aol.com/romanwriter1/CaucasusMap.jpg" style="border:0;"/><br>
(Map: Michael Speidel) <p></p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

What type of troops were they?<br>
Spearmen?<br>
Johnny <p></p><i></i>

[Vincula]

I guess. Arrian just calls them <em>lonchophoroi</em>, which literally means "spear carriers". <p></p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

Lohngchophoroi are discussed at length in Duncan Heads "Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars" when he's investigating whether or not Carthaginian speamen had pikes.<br>
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In that context he concludes that it means a short throwable spear.<br>
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How relevant that is for Arrian I'm not sure, but it would fit with these soldiers beign "standard" Roman auxilia, armed with light spears or javelins. <p></p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

Thanks, Vincula. Just what I wanted.<br>
<br>
Johnny, Arrian's use of lonchophoroi bears on the discussion on the hasta/pilum thread. Arrian uses lonchophoroi for the rear ranks of the legionaries, and also for ethnic units like the Rhizians. Lonche usually seems to be used for light spears or javelins. <p></p><i></i>