The Timing and Development of the Ouragos

[Paullus Scipio]

Konijnendijk's hypothesis is probably based on this:

οὐρα_γ-ός , ὁ, (οὐρά, ἄγω)
A.leader of the rearguard, X.An. 4.3.26, Cyr.2.3.22, Plb.6.24.2 and 35.6.
2. rear man in λόχος, Ascl.Tact.2.2, Ael. Tact.5.1, Arr.Tact.5.4.
3. in cavalry, rear man in ῥόμβος, Ascl.Tact.7.2.
4. one of the ἔκτακτοι attached to a τάξις, ib.2.9, Ael.Tact.9.4, Arr.Tact.10.4; to a ἑκατονταρχία of light-armed troops, Ascl.Tact.6.3.

Notice that Xenophon is the earliest known usage, because he is the first to write about the phalanx in a technical sense. However, the phalanx was in use much earlier, and like the 'file leader', the rearmost man was essential.
I would venture to suggest that 'ouragoi' had been around as long as the phalanx itself......

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Konijnendijk's hypothesis is probably based on this:

οὐρα_γ-ός , ὁ, (οὐρά, ἄγω)
A.leader of the rearguard, X.An. 4.3.26, Cyr.2.3.22, Plb.6.24.2 and 35.6.
2. rear man in λόχος, Ascl.Tact.2.2, Ael. Tact.5.1, Arr.Tact.5.4.
3. in cavalry, rear man in ῥόμβος, Ascl.Tact.7.2.
4. one of the ἔκτακτοι attached to a τάξις, ib.2.9, Ael.Tact.9.4, Arr.Tact.10.4; to a ἑκατονταρχία of light-armed troops, Ascl.Tact.6.3.

Notice that Xenophon is the earliest known usage, because he is the first to write about the phalanx in a technical sense. However, the phalanx was in use much earlier, and like the 'file leader', the rearmost man was essential.
I would venture to suggest that 'ouragoi' had been around as long as the phalanx itself......