Slitherine

Hi

First Corps do some lovely ptolomic egyption pikemen in 25mm. Does anyone know if there are similir 15mm versions done by anyone?

If not has anyone tried to make them using differnt figures?

Cheers

Chris

Pabzer262 wrote:Hi

First Corps do some lovely ptolomic egyption pikemen in 25mm. Does anyone know if there are similir 15mm versions done by anyone?

If not has anyone tried to make them using differnt figures?

Cheers

Chris

I'm sure someone must. You could try a web search for "Ptolemaic Egyptian phalangite figure".

Alternatively, if you were the enemy, could you tell the difference between an Egyptian pikeman and one of Macedonian heritage?

Lol it depends how you look at it.

The Macedonians and Greeks that settled in Egypt probably retained their traditional macedonian gear.

The native Egyptians were clothed in a quilt sort of padding, in many ways like the Xyston Egpytion spearmen. I have though of using these but I think the tunic is to long!!!

at 15mm can anyone really tell how much leg is showing? I suspect the Egyptians would have a slightly darker tan than the Ptolemies would.

The egyptians could wear tights. Then they'd be the same.

99% of ancients figures are either based on an Osprey book, or on an old WRG Armies and Enemies book. Neither of these are photographically accurate except for the odd figure for exceptionally well documented armies. And even then it always involves an artist "artistically" extrapolating from a colour-free photo of a detail-free wall carving of one or two soldiers from an army of many thousands, in a representation of one battle or parade out of a period spanning hundreds of years ...

So, Use whatever figure is close enough for you to be happy with it! Most of us would use the same Pikemen for all Hellenistic armies, but if you think that more padded armour is better for Ptolemaic pikemen, go for it!

madaxeman wrote:99% of ancients figures are either based on an Osprey book, or on an old WRG Armies and Enemies book. Neither of these are photographically accurate except for the odd figure for exceptionally well documented armies. And even then it always involves an artist "artistically" extrapolating from a colour-free photo of a detail-free wall carving of one or two soldiers from an army of many thousands, in a representation of one battle or parade out of a period spanning hundreds of years ...

So, Use whatever figure is close enough for you to be happy with it! Most of us would use the same Pikemen for all Hellenistic armies, but if you think that more padded armour is better for Ptolemaic pikemen, go for it!

Madaxeman makes a great point here. It's amazing how many ancient sculpts are blatantly taken from the Osprey and WRG sources.

Case in point, as I'm working on my Bactrians at the moment: virtually every Bactrian phalangite on the market is based on the image from "Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars"; this was an artistic interpretation, but as a result, the common feeling amongst wargamers is that Bactrian phalangites must have full beards... despite the fact that there's no archaeological evidence to say that this was particularly common, or even popular.

Same goes with the look of your average Ptolemaic figure, your average Carthaginian spearman, etc. Who's to say the cotton armor wasn't more popular elsewhere? Or that all Ptolemaic phalangites didn't wear it, as opposed to Linothrax, because of the climate? Again, what you think looks good is what's important. So long as they aren't blatantly anachronistic, I suspect you'll be fine.


-M.

Good points chaps.

Ill have a play around and see what I like best!!

Cheers for all youe help!!

One guy in our group here in the western suburbs - has Essex 15's as his Ptolemy armies
they look just fine - they are 15mm of course -
I would bet that OG has something