Ancient Macedonian Weapons
Forerunner to the medieval crossbow gastraphetes was the long range weapon of ancient greeks including alexander the great. The ancient macedonians were a religious people.
As with any plodding ancient formation the macedonian hoplite was susceptible to ranged weapons particularly from archers slingers or javelin throwing peltasts.
Ancient macedonian weapons. The macedonian army also captured sam 7 surface to air missiles and 50 caliber sniper rifles from the nla. The companion cavalry or hetairoi ἑταῖροι were the elite arm of the macedonian army and were the offensive force that made the decisive attack in most of the battles of alexander the great they were unmatched in the pre stirrup ancient world in their ability to retain their seat and the control of their weapons through the impact of a charge. For a weapon he carried a thrusting spear of five to eight feet in length.
Coins of the macedonian sovereigns are quite common finds at sites throughout the republic of macedonia. Two gold starters phillip 2 nd phillip 3 rd arrydeius and the 3 rd silver tetradrachm lyzzimachus ancient macedonian religion. From descriptions of combat it would appear that once in melee the companion cavalryman used his lance to thrust at the chests and faces of the enemy.
Many of these weapons like the sword are almost universally known while others like the bizarre hunga munga are little known and defy classification. It was not loaded by pulling up the string. Whereas ancient greece phalanxes were at their mercy due to their excessive combat weight alexander s lightened macedonian hoplites stood a fighting chance to run down and kill the mobile artillery units.
The hoplite wore greaves to cover his calves a molded cuirass that shielded his torso as well as a long pleated tunic that protected his abdomen and groin. Infantry weapons produced in serbia zastava arms belgrade 12 7x107mm nsv heavy machine gun 5 45x39mm aks 74u short assault rifle zastava arms beograd 7 62x39mm akm assault rifle zastava arms. This gave it more energy than the one arm of the archer.
Instead it was loaded by resting the stomach in a concavity at the rear and pressing down with all strength. Ancient weapons come in three forms ranged weapons melee close combat and siege weapons. The primary weapon of the macedonian cavalry was the xyston a double ended lance with a sword as a secondary weapon.
