#8129 Theban Army

Dated: December 11, 2005, updated February 13, 2006.
Last updated November 16, 2007

Thebes was the principal city of Boeotia in central Greece and one of the most important powers of the Classical Greek world. For much of the fifth century BC it stood in the shadow of Athens and Sparta, but during the early fourth century Thebes emerged as a major military power in its own right and briefly became the dominant state in Greece.

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The strength of a Theban army, like that of most Greek city-states, rested upon its hoplites. These heavily armed infantrymen fought in the close-order phalanx, carrying a large round shield and thrusting spear. Individual soldiers provided much of their own equipment, so armor could vary considerably. Some wore bronze cuirasses, others linen or composite protection, while less heavily equipped men might fight in little more than a tunic.

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Thebes belonged to the region of Boeotia, and one particularly distinctive piece of equipment was the Boeotian helmet. Originally related to a broad-brimmed felt hat, the helmet offered good visibility and hearing and became especially associated with cavalry. The figures in this set make extensive use of the Boeotian style, helping distinguish them from more generic Greek hoplites. The club device carried on many of the shields was also associated with Thebes.

Test sprue.

The most famous period in Theban military history began after the expulsion of a Spartan garrison from Thebes in 379 BC. Under leaders such as Epaminondas and Pelopidas, the Thebans reorganized their forces and challenged the military reputation of Sparta itself.

Test sprue, first mold, never released.

The decisive moment came at the Battle of Leuctra in 371 BC. Instead of distributing his hoplites evenly across the battlefield, Epaminondas concentrated an unusually deep formation on the Theban left, directly opposite the strongest Spartan troops. The Theban cavalry first drove back the Spartan horsemen, after which the massed infantry struck the Spartan right. The result was a crushing Theban victory that shattered the long-standing belief in Spartan invincibility.

The elite Sacred Band of Thebes also became famous during this period. Traditionally described as a force of 300 selected hoplites, it fought under Pelopidas and played an important role in the victories that established Theban power. The Sacred Band remained one of the most celebrated formations in Greece until its destruction at Chaeronea in 338 BC, where Philip II of Macedon and the young Alexander defeated the combined forces of Thebes and Athens.

Theban influence reached its height during the campaigns of Epaminondas. The Thebans invaded the Peloponnese, helped free Messenia from Spartan control and repeatedly challenged Sparta on its own ground. At Mantinea in 362 BC, Epaminondas won another major battle but was mortally wounded. Without his leadership, Theban supremacy quickly weakened, although the city remained an important Greek power for another generation.

This set contains 60 figures and 8 horses in 12 figure poses and 2 horse poses. Most of the infantry are hoplites armed with spears and round shields, with poses suitable for standing in formation, advancing and fighting at close quarters. A swordsman and commander add variety, while light and heavier cavalrymen provide mounted support.

The figures display a wide mixture of armor and clothing, including bronze body armor, lighter protection, simple tunics and more lightly dressed warriors. This variety is appropriate for a Greek citizen army in which individual equipment could differ substantially from one soldier to another. The widespread use of Boeotian helmets and the club emblems on the shields gives the force a particularly Theban character.

The set is especially suitable for the great Theban campaigns of the fourth century BC, including Leuctra in 371 BC, the invasions of the Peloponnese, Mantinea in 362 BC and Chaeronea in 338 BC. It can also be used more broadly for Boeotian forces during the Classical Greek period and combined with our other Greek, Spartan, Macedonian and Persian sets to represent the changing alliances and rivalries of ancient Greece.