04-03-2014, 05:10 PM
Quote:The source for the 400 guards from legio II Traiana could have be taken from M.P. Speidel
I believe Sander is referring to the lanciarii detachment mentioned on the Panopolis papyrus (as we discussed before) - 439 men seems the best available figure.
Arrian has some of his legionaries armed with the lancea, and it seems possible that his soomatophylakes or lonchophoroi are intended to be lanciarii, who in turn are mentioned elsewhere as serving in a bodyguard role.
Nathan Ross