Macedonian Hypaspist

 

This is the Macedonian Hypaspist that first appeared in the Miniature Figurines 72/73 catalogue as PB 3s and subsequently in the 75 catalogue as PB 3.

Both PB ranges were based on Phil Barker's books Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars and Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome. This figure is taken from illustration 3 in AMPW.

The 's' designation was used to distinguish the newer 25mm style of models from the preceding, smaller 1/72nd range. The transition was soon complete and the 's' - special - was dropped from the figure codes thereafter. 

The base is stamped PB 3 on the upper surface in the usual manner.

The same comment applies to this figure as to the phalangite - PB 2 - as both appear to have been built on the same body.

The premise is that the Hypaspists faught in a tactically distinct fashion from the phalanx proper, and consequently were armed differently. I'm not going to go into the sources for Alexander's army (none contemporary by the way) but suffice to say there are references to infantry armed with spears as opposed to the sarissa and these have been taken as suggesting a unique battlefield role for the Hypaspists ('Guard' is a loose translation - literally 'shield-bearer'). 

Is it true? Did the Hypaspids fights with spears whilst the phalanx proper bore down upon the foe with their long pikes? Or were the Hypaspids simply the elite portion of the infantry who fought in the same fashion, and who could could easily wield a spear or javelin if the occasion demanded it?