{{Short description|Hellenistic soldiers equipped with mail}} {{Italics title}} [[File:Thueros affresco.jpg|thumb|Fresco of an [[Macedonia (ancient kingdom)|ancient Macedonian]] soldier (thorakitai) wearing [[Chain mail|chainmail]] armor and bearing a ''[[Thyreos|thureos]]'' shield]] The '''''thorakitai''''' ({{langx|el|θωρακίται}}; {{singular}}: θωρακίτης, ''thorakites'') were a type of soldier in [[Hellenistic period|Hellenistic]] armies similar to the ''[[Thyreophoroi|thureophoroi]]''. The literal translation of the term is "cuirassiers", which suggests that they may have worn a short [[Celts|Celtic]] [[Chain mail|mail]] shirt or possibly a ''[[linothorax]]''.<ref>Head (1982), p. 115</ref>
==Role== ''Thorakitai'' were used in armies of the [[Hellenistic period]] in a variety of tactical situations. They were a type of armoured but mobile infantry who did not require a rigid formation to be effective in combat. From their name we can deduce that most wore armor and helmet. They bore a ''[[Thyreos|thureos]]'', an oval shield, and were armed with sword, javelins and spear, which were used according to their tactical use. It seems that the ''thorakitai'' were heavily armored ''thureophoroi'', able to bear spears and do battle in a [[phalanx]] as well as engage in irregular warfare in situations when such an action was required for tactical reasons, like to exploit or challenge rough terrain.
One view is that the ''thorakites'' were a final step in the development of the [[peltast]]s. Alternative views state that they were [[hoplite]]s with cheaper equipment. Roman authors may have seen them as imitation [[Legionary|legionaries]].<ref>Webber (2011), p. 179</ref>
==History== The ''thorakitai'' are mentioned in the army of the [[Achaean League]]<ref>Polybius IV.12.3; XI.11.4-5;14.1;15.5</ref><ref>Plutarch Philopoemen 9.1ff.</ref> and in the [[Seleucid army]].<ref>Polybius X.29.6</ref><ref>Head (1982), p. 115</ref> The Seleucid ''thorakitai'' were used in the storming of the Elburz Range in 210 BC under [[Antiochus III]]. They were used with the lighter troops to climb the cliffs and fight hand to hand with the enemy who might have not been dislodged by the lighter troops in the assault.<ref>Bar-Kochva (1979), p.142-45</ref> There is a tomb illustration from [[Sidon]] showing what could well be a ''thorakites''. The fragmentary inscription indicates that he was an [[Anatolia]]n.
==References== {{reflist}}
==Sources== *Head, Duncan (1982). ''Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars''. WRG. *Bar-Kochva, Brzalel (1979). ''The Seleucid Army: Organization and Tactics in the great campaigns''. Cambridge University Press. *Walbank, F.W. (1967). ''A Historical Commentary on Polybius, Volume III''. Oxford University Press. *{{cite book|first=Chris|last=Webber|title=The Gods of Battle: The Thracians at War, 1500 BC - 150 AD|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=67fNDwAAQBAJ&pg=PP179|date=12 July 2011|publisher=Pen & Sword Books|isbn=978-1-84884-942-6}}
[[Category:Military units and formations of the Hellenistic world]] [[Category:Ancient Greek infantry types]]