This list covers the Persian armies from Cyrus the Great’s defeat of the Medes until the abandonment of sparabara infantry. Sparabara were men with short spear and big rectangular cane shield, used to front archer units, enabling these to better able to survive close combat; and so represented by a double element rank with spearmen in front and archers behind. The elite Immortals can be distinguished by scale instead of textile corslets and possibly by all bowmen also having spears. From 465, sparabara started to be replaced by ordinary archers with axe and crescent-shaped shield. Be warned that Xenophon’s Cyropaedia has been described as “the first historical novel” and its troop descriptions are often regarded sceptically. However, he had fought a Persian army, there is nothing impossible about them and I/60b provides fun games for both sides. References: The Achaemenid Persian Army D. Head, The Cyropaedia Xenophon, Persian Fire T. Holland, Shadow of Wings R.F. Tapsell (novel).
— Achaemenid Army 550 BC - 547 BC
I/23 — VEDIC INDIAN 1500 BC - 501 BC
I/35 — CYPRIOT & PHOENICIAN 1000 BC - 332 BC
I/41 — MEDES, ZIRKIRTU, ANDIA & PARSUA 835 BC - 550 BC
I/43 — KIMMERIAN, SKYTHIAN & EARLY HU 750 BC - 70 AD
I/44 — NEO-BABYLONIAN 746 BC - 539 BC , 522 BC - 521 BC & 482 BC
I/48 — THRACIAN 700 BC - 46 AD
I/50 — LYDIAN 687 BC - 540 BC
I/52 — EARLY HOPLITE GREEK 669 BC - 449 BC
I/53 — SAITIC EGYPTIAN 664 BC - 335 BC
I/54 — EARLY MACEDONIAN 650 BC - 355 BC
I/56 — KYRENEAN GREEK 630 BC - 74 BC
I/58 — MEROITIC KUSHITE 592 BC - 350 AD
I/62 — LYKIAN 546 BC - 300 BC
I/63 — PAIONIAN 512 BC - 284 BC
I/6 — EARLY BEDOUIN 3000 BC - 312 BC
I/7 — EARLY LIBYAN 3000 BC - 70 AD
I/8 — MAKKAN, DILMUN, SABA, MA’IN & QATABAN 2800 BC - 312 BC
II/1 — REPUBLICAN INDIAN 500 BC - 321 BC
II/2 — MOUNTAIN INDIAN 500 BC - 170 BC
II/3 — CLASSICAL INDIAN 500 BC - 545 AD
I/41 — MEDES, ZIRKIRTU, ANDIA & PARSUA 835 BC - 550 BC
I/43 — KIMMERIAN, SKYTHIAN & EARLY HU 750 BC - 70 AD
I/52 — EARLY HOPLITE GREEK 669 BC - 449 BC
I/62 — LYKIAN 546 BC - 300 BC
— Cyrus’ Army according to the Cyropaedia 546 BC - 540 BC
I/50 — LYDIAN 687 BC - 540 BC
— Achaemenid Army 539 BC - 420 BC
I/23 — VEDIC INDIAN 1500 BC - 501 BC
I/35 — CYPRIOT & PHOENICIAN 1000 BC - 332 BC
I/43 — KIMMERIAN, SKYTHIAN & EARLY HU 750 BC - 70 AD
I/52 — EARLY HOPLITE GREEK 669 BC - 449 BC
I/53 — SAITIC EGYPTIAN 664 BC - 335 BC
I/56 — KYRENEAN GREEK 630 BC - 74 BC
I/6 — EARLY BEDOUIN 3000 BC - 312 BC
I/7 — EARLY LIBYAN 3000 BC - 70 AD
I/8 — MAKKAN, DILMUN, SABA, MA’IN & QATABAN 2800 BC - 312 BC
II/1 — REPUBLICAN INDIAN 500 BC - 321 BC
II/2 — MOUNTAIN INDIAN 500 BC - 170 BC
II/3 — CLASSICAL INDIAN 500 BC - 545 AD
II/5 — LATER HOPLITE GREEK 448 BC - 225 BC
II/6 — BITHYNIAN 435 BC - 74 BC
I/62 — LYKIAN 546 BC - 300 BC