Photo cover; Xenophon’s exhausted men reach the shores of the Black Sea in Trebizond. Among them are the Rhodian slingers, who proved exceptionally valuable, especially during the initial clashes with the Persian forces. 19th-century illustration “The Return of the Ten Thousand under Xenophon” by German illustrator Hermann Vogel (October 16, 1854 – February 22, 1921), colourised.

“In the meantime, the Greek soldiers who were in the rear were suffering without being able to retaliate against the attacks. Because the Cretans were shooting arrows from a closer distance than the Persians; and also, because they were lightly armed, they had closed in within the square of heavily armed soldiers. The javelin throwers, on the other hand, threw their javelins at a distance shorter than that needed to reach the slingers.”

The first encounter of Xenophon’s Greek mercenary corps with the now openly hostile Persians was with a small section of 600 men under Mithradates, with 200 cavalry and 400 infantry archers and slingers. The latter, with better bows, were hitting the Greeks who could not retaliate, and every attempt to pursue them ended in vain since they had neither cavalry nor infantry that could constantly chase them, while continuously receiving fire (the barbarian cavalry, when retreating, shot backward from their horses, and as much as the Greeks pursued, they had to withdraw again, fighting).

The solution was found in the Rhodian slingers. With a double range compared to the Persians’ slingers, as they used lead projectiles instead of stones the size of a fist like their opponents, they would be used in the next clash. Additionally, additional volunteers were sought to fill the ranks of the slinger corps and individuals who would make additional slings. Thus, 200 of them, along with 50 horsemen riding horses used as mounts under Lykios of Polyostratos from Athens, would be the fastest and deadliest shock force.

Mithradates, following orders from Tissaphernes, approached this time with 5,000 men, including 1,000 cavalry. At a distance of approximately 1.5 kilometers (8 stadia), he attempted to cross a ravine that the Greeks had previously passed. However, he fell into an ambush. The Rhodian slingers, along with Cretan archers, unleashed a volley of projectiles. The surprised Persians saw their losses increase, unable to do anything, stunned by the surprise. Their confusion turned into a disorderly retreat when the prearranged signal was given, and the Greek light infantry, along with the newly formed cavalry, attacked the enemy. The operation was completely successful.

The adaptability of the Greek force resulted in the death of many Persians, both cavalry and infantry, during the pursuit (in this pursuit, many of the barbarians, both infantry and cavalry, died), while 18 cavalrymen were captured. The dead enemies were mistreated to instill additional terror in their compatriots who would later arrive to bury them.”

The slingers were one of the most widespread types of light infantry in Greek and Roman armies. Initially, their projectiles were made of stone or baked clay. However, later on, lead pre-formed projectiles in an almond shape were adopted, providing better aerodynamics, longer range, and increased lethality. These projectiles were usually about 35 millimeters in length, 20 millimeters in width, and weighed approximately 28 grams. Frequently, symbols or inscriptions were cast onto these projectiles.

They could bear the name or monogram of the owner, the name of the army commander or enemy leader , invocations to the gods for good luck, with the winged Victory (Nike) being common, and, of course, taunting messages to the enemy (like “trogalion,” meaning that the opponent would… eat dessert, “troge,” (eat) “aischron doron,” (disgraceful gift) “labe,” (take it) “aima,” (blood) etc. There is no clear distinction between Greek and Roman lead sling bullets, as their shape and weight are similar.

The subsequent command of the Persian forces was assumed by Tissaphernes himself, accompanied by his son-in-law from King Orontas, as well as his own contingent and the Persians following the deceased Prince Cyrus, thereby forming a potent military alliance. Contact with the Greeks occurred when the latter had traversed approximately 20 kilometers (4 parasangs, 22 km). Despite the magnitude of his army, Tissaphernes refrained from launching a comprehensive assault. Instead, he directed his archers towards the Greek rearguard. It was their turn to endure the projectiles of the Rhodian slingers, accompanied by a barrage of arrows, resulting in their tactical withdrawal. Xenophon specifically notes the precision of their shots, asserting that “no one missed his target.”

Observing these triumphs, the Greek mercenary contingent, as they traversed villages, diligently sought lead, essential for their projectile ammunition. At the subsequent station, the fifth, Greek slingers and archers confronted Persians positioned on a hill. Due to the topography, the Greeks failed to achieve any significant impact, suffering losses without commensurate retaliation. Consequently, they retreated to the security of the phalanx, effectively circumventing the enemy forces from a strategically advantageous position that deterred Persian proximity. This underscores the discernible importance of geography in the utilization of slingers, as well as in the tactics of any armed unit.

After further clashes with Tissaphernes, the Greeks reached the mountainous regions of the Carduchians. Supplied by some temporarily abandoned villages of the Carduchians, they soon faced the first attacks at steep passages, rivers, and crossings, assisting the passage of the troops by keeping the Carduchians and Oroetes’ mercenaries, who had arrived with Armenians, Medes, and Chaldeans, at a distance. During the rest of the journey, as the Greeks moved along the coast of the Pontus and Paphlagonia, Xenophon mentions the slingers once again. Apparently, they participated in all operations against the local tribes they encountered, contributing, along with other light infantry (peltasts, skirmishers), to the remarkable campaign of the Greek army.

Source

Xenophon, “Anabasis,” 3.3.7 – 3.4.5