The Archaeologist

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Units of History - The Macedonian Silver Shields (Documentary)

In this animated documentary we follow the story of one of the most elite units of history, the Argyraspides : the Silver Shields. We begin the video by taking a look back at their institutional origins. This can be traced back to the early practice in Macedon of having bodyguard units of Hetairoi protect the king in court and on the battlefield. Eventually these would be expanded to form elite units of horse and foot companions during the reforms of Philip the second of Macedon.