Amrtaka: ‘Immortals’; Persian royal foot guards.
Arstibara: ‘spearbearers’; Persian guardsmen.
Asapatish: cavalry commander.
Baivarabam: ‘unit of ten thousand’; Persian military unit, cf. Greek myrias.
Baivarapatish: ‘commander of ten thousand’; senior Persian officer.
Bandaka: ‘bondsmen’ or ‘retainers’.
Dathabam:’unit of ten’; squad.
Dathapatish: ‘commander of ten’; squad leader.
Hazarapatish: ‘commander of a thousand’; Persian officer.
Kara: host; army.
Karda: warlike spirit.
Kardaka: Kurdish soldier.
Spara: shield.
Sparabara: ‘shield-bearer’; Persian soldier.
Taka: light shield.
Takabara: ‘shield-bearers’; cf. Greek peltastès.
Thanvabara: archers; bowmen.
Special thanks to Sander van Dorst, as most work here is by him.
3 Replies to “Military terms and definitions in Ancient Persia”