Doryphoroi in Rome

[Jona Lendering]

Philostratus mentions, in the Vita Apollonii 7.31, a prisoner who is brought to his judge by four doryphoroi.

What do you think: can "doryphoroi" refer to praetorians or to another type of soldiers?

[M. Demetrius]

Could that just be another name for "spearmen"?

[Jona Lendering]

Could that just be another name for "spearmen"?

It might be a translation of "hastati", yes. And although the archaic name appears to have been used, I would be surprised that it had become a synonym for guardsman, policeman.

[Kai]

Pretty sure it means the Praetorians. It is a quite usual Greek word for bodyguard. Cassius Dio e.g. also describes them as being doryphoroi:

Καὶ παραυτίκα γε τοῖς δορυφορήσουσιν αὐτὸν διπλάσιον τὸν μισθὸν τοῦ τοῖς ἄλλοις στρατιώταις διδομένου ψηφισθῆναι διεπράξατο, ὅπως ἀκριβῆ τὴν φρουρὰν ἔχῃ. (53,11)

But of course, the word can also be used quite generic and could mean any kind of guard then...

[Jona Lendering]

Thanks Kai, that's what I needed.