Xyston Agema vs. Companions

[j2klbs]

Hi all,

I am soliciting ideas on how to differentiate between my BG of Alexander's Agema vs. the mounted Companions while using the Xyston miniatures.

One idea I had was to use the horses with the jaguar saddle blankets for the Agema and the ones with the cloth blankets for the companions. However, I'm not sure this is really all that historically accurate.

Any comments on the above or any other ideas on how to differentiate the two BG's from each other (e.g. paint scheme, etc.)?

Thanks so much!
Jason

[j2klbs]

One of the Osprey books suggest that companions wore yellow cloaks with a lilac border whereas the elite unites (agema?) reversed that with lilac cloaks and a yellow border. So that is one way I suppose I could differentiate.

However, does anyone know if the jaguar saddle cloth was also a mark of distinction (e.g. Agema), or was it somewhat random who had which types of saddle cloths.

Thanks!!!
Jason

[OldenTired]

Hi all,

I am soliciting ideas on how to differentiate between my BG of Alexander's Agema vs. the mounted Companions while using the Xyston miniatures.

One idea I had was to use the horses with the jaguar saddle blankets for the Agema and the ones with the cloth blankets for the companions. However, I'm not sure this is really all that historically accurate.

Any comments on the above or any other ideas on how to differentiate the two BG's from each other (e.g. paint scheme, etc.)?

Thanks so much!
Jason

don't fret so much on the historically accurate. we know so little about uniforms that you're better off just going for "roughly what they might have looked like".

one thing you could consider is using the flash "xystophoroi" figures for the agema, and using the kettle-hat thessalian cavalry as companions. the difference should be obvious when you look at the figures. give these guys yellow-bordered cloaks.

likewise, maybe paint the helmets of the agema gold, blue, red etc (which is something elites did?), then paint all the companions white with the occasional bronze. these guys, just plain *lilac* cloaks (not royal purple, too blue to be hellenic)