Shield bearer usually refers to a Macedonian version of a heavy armored
hoplite, whose tasks were protecting flanks of the sarrisa
phalanx
The phalanx ( grc, φάλαγξ; plural phalanxes or phalanges, , ) was a rectangular mass military formation, usually composed entirely of heavy infantry armed with spears, pikes, sarissas, or similar pole weapons. The term is particularly ...
, and carrying a shield to protect other men in same ranks. A commander might be protected by several shield bearers. In combat, the shield bearers served as core of Macedonian army along with
sarissa
The sarisa or sarissa ( el, σάρισα) was a long spear or pike about in length. It was introduced by Philip II of Macedon and was used in his Macedonian phalanxes as a replacement for the earlier dory, which was considerably shorter. The ...
pike men, usually protecting flanks of the pike infantry. Other types of soldiers that made use of shield bearers included
archers
Archery is the sport, practice, or skill of using a bow to shoot arrows.Paterson ''Encyclopaedia of Archery'' p. 17 The word comes from the Latin ''arcus'', meaning bow. Historically, archery has been used for hunting and combat. In mo ...
,
crossbow
A crossbow is a ranged weapon using an elastic launching device consisting of a bow-like assembly called a ''prod'', mounted horizontally on a main frame called a ''tiller'', which is hand-held in a similar fashion to the stock of a long fire ...
men, and early
handgunners.
Military units and formations of antiquity
Ancient Greek infantry types
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